Spun·gle v. spun·gled, spun·gling, spun·gles;
to deplete one's savings on the most marvelous, yet frivolous, possessions and services;
Friday, July 03, 2009
AMFYOYO (Verdict: Holiday Weekend!)
In the spirit of the long-holiday weekend, we too are taking a break and going to beach. Obviously, we'll be perusing the clubs and sands for the hottest fashions and toys, but we'll also be getting some well needed R&R.
So, Happy July 4th and AMFYOYO! (Adios MoFo, You're On You're Own)-- just till Monday that is!
When it comes to proper fashion the only option is a bespoke garment. Sure you could go to your local haberdashery, buy a jacket or a shirt off the rack, and have them cut it up/down to your size. But at the end of the day, you’re essentially trying to fit something that was made for someone else. Let’s be honest, you’re not a cloth-filled torso; so why the hell are you wearing clothes designed for the “average American mannequin?” With that said, we are also cognizant of the fact that you get what you pay for, and not all of us have deep enough pockets both figuratively and literally (the average American pant pocket is 4.75 inches) for a custom wardrobe. So, in an attempt to fulfill our insatiable desire for proper fitting menswear, we tried out some of the best custom clothiers while hunting for the perfect shirt and jacket combo. The victor is Astor & Black, and man are we impressed.
Our Astor & Black adventure started with a friendly email with one of their top reps, Berel. He told us that he was more than willing to meet us at Spungle nearly any day at nearly any time day or night. We found a time that worked for us, and before we knew it, we had Berel at the door with fabrics in-tow. The fitting started with a conversation about life, what we do for fun, what we do at work, and how we like to portray ourselves. At first we thought he was just a well-seasoned bullsh*t artist, but soon we realized that he was trying understand the fashion and style of his consumer. His questions were extremely well-crafted: “Do you ever go straight from the office out for drinks?”, “What’s your take on dressing up/down for Sunday brunch?”, “Tell me about your ideal night out.” Taken together, his questions painted a picture, and before we knew it, he was ready to create. In what seemed like a double-jeopardy / rapid-fire session, we were soon peppered with questions about lapels, sleeve lengths, linings, pocket squares, vents, collars, and buttons. After being thoroughly deposed and cross-examined on our ideas of what makes the “perfect jacket” Berel went in for round-two asking us about cuts, collars, sleeves, and monograms for our matching shirt. By the end of this tête-à-tête we felt as if a) there was no way we could ever go to a normal department store and just buy something off the rack, b) there was no way we could ever be happy with what was in our closets, and c) that we really didn’t want to talk about clothing for a long time! However, the verbal questions were just the beginning. Within seconds of completing an extremely complex form that supposedly took all of our discussions into consideration, Berel ran across the room, and introduced us to “his luggage.”
At first we thought he had a midget-sized tailor inside that was going to take our measurements. But, much to our dismay, it was instead packed with hundreds of fabrics. If you thought the questions were tiring, try fingering through one amazing fabric after a next. To say that we were overwhelmed by our options is an understatement. However, Berel, being the professional that he is, quickly and effortlessly took us for an Italian tour through phenomenal Italian-woven threads, and then shuttled us through a rich tour down Saville Row with unbelievable British-woven threads. In sum, we toured the finest European mills from the comfort of our couch, and the convenience of Berel’s roll-on luggage. After a few minutes, we decided on a rich-looking exotic, rough, camel tweed for the jacket and a strong yet subtle check for our shirt. Finally we had created our dream jacket/shirt combo.
Now, we have to admit, the other custom clothiers do talk to you and schlep around books of fabrics, but the Astor & Black experience is on par with no other schtick in town. Especially, this next part… Just when we thought we were done, and ready to be measured, Berel asked us to put on a sport jacket. He wanted to see how we fit in the jacket, how we like our jackets, and also so he could get a glimpse at his over-priced Italian competition. Berel took measurements from the coat, pointed out why and how it did not fit, and promised us that he could not only do better, but that he guaranteed he would. The rest of the time he did the usual stuff- tape measure, scribbles, etc…
For what seemed like an eternity, but honestly was only a couple of weeks, we would get emails and calls from Astor & Black updating us on the status of our order. They were extremely easy to reach and wonderfully responsive- a quality that is NOT universal in the custom clothing business. Ultimately, we were surprised one day to find an oversized box from FedEx that proved to be a wardrobe box, with our jacket and shirt hanging inside. This is a touch that is also not universal. Many of the custom clothiers will send their products in soft UPS/FedEx bags which risks damage. Instead, Astor & Black takes pride in their product and sends it to you properly. Of course, they prefer to deliver it in person to tweak the garments in the event that you have any questions, but in the event that you’re as busy as we are, they make sure that you safely get your clothes.
And the result… AMAZING! We are absolutely, positively, blown-away by their creations. Not only is the jacket everything that we wanted, it is exactly what we wanted. They were able to take hours of fashion-gibberish and make it materialize. The jacket fit like a glove, hugging where it should, and falling properly where it needed to. The shirt turned out to be the ideal complement to jacket, with a collar that worked perfectly with the jacket collar, making it look as if the two were made for each other, and ultimately crafted for the wearer. We cannot convey to you how happy we are with the Astor & Black experience. Of course their threads come at a cost, but with prices that are comparable with those of their competitors, and actually less than the high-end guys, we cannot think of why you should either ever buy a shirt/suit/jacket off the rack, or even experiment with any other clothier. Astor & Black is the company that makes the clothes that you’ve always wanted, but never had the chance to experience. In the spirit of Nike, just do it!
PS Be sure to ask for Berel, he truly is a clothing genius!
There’s something to be said for having a complete kitchen. Now, some may define the complete kitchen as one that has matching silverware and plates, but we think that’s pretty much a collegiate level answer. You can kick it up to grad-school level if you also have matching cups and cutlery, or even junior associate level if you have separate water and bar glasses. But, to really say that you’ve completed your kitchen, you need to have appliances, and in our humble honest opinion, nothing says “finito” like a stand mixer!
You see, we don’t expect you to know how, when, why to use a mixer, but we know that when you bring a girl back to your pad (or guy, depending on your preference), that a mixer on the counter exudes an element of sophistication. For example, it subtly states that you know that a soufflé is folded and not beaten (although I doubt you use a mixer to make a soufflé). A mixer on the counter says that you know that the best cookies are those made from scratch- mostly because there is ample batter to eat. And a mixer on the counter says that you know how to make your grandmother’s famous matzah balls (by mixing together a bunch of crap, making a mess, and then placing an order at 2nd Avenue Deli). You get our drift—you need a mixer!
So, with so many to choose from, and bonuses being so small, which one do you get? Do you go for the top of the line in hopes that you’ll one night take home the next Top Chef? Or, do you go for the middle of the road, preferably one on sale, where you’ll get a ton of bang for your buck without breaking the bank? We vote the later. Which is why, we’re advocating for the newly released KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer.
This whirring wonder packs a stunning 325 watts of raw mixing power- making the toughest dough look like play-dough and weakest of egg whites look like the world’s fluffiest creation. The mixer features a flat beater for batter, hamburger, and other hard to beat concoctions; a wire for whipping egg whites, mayonnaise, and other fluff-worthy creations; and a hook for your favorite yeasty products. In addition, it features an idiot-proof pouring shield to ensure you don’t destroy your kitchen as you add your ingredients, and the bowl locks in place to keep it from sliding away during the high-power mixing action. Taken together, it’s the riding lawn mower of the kitchen!
In conclusion, while you may not cook, you’ll likely find (or look for) someone who does. And with all this rainy weather, nothing is more fun than a cooking date where you both get a little schmutzy while filling your bellies. So, take the plunge, take advantage of this ridiculous sale, and get yourself the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer! We know that you’ll thank us for it!
In thinking of a great gift for both dads and grads, there’s really nothing better than a pair of custom cufflinks. Sure, you could go balls out and get a pair of uber exclusive cufflinks, but in the end of the day, giving a customized gift shows that you’re willing to go the extra mile. So, in breaking from Spungle tradition, here are TWO recommendations:
For dads-to-be, nothing says you’re a proud sperm donor (or ineffective condom user) like a pair of ultrasound cufflinks. At $65 bucks a pair, you can sport your baby’s profile on your wrists and spur tons of conversation at the water cooler about your baby-mama-drama. Unfortunately, it does take 3 weeks for them to be made, so we recommend using your 18-week anatomy scan, otherwise the little tyke might be born before you even rock them.
For non-dads, dads, grads or everyone else, we are huge fans of monogrammed cufflinks. In this economy you really don’t want to rock precious stones as you’re getting your ass fired, and in the event that you have to initial legal papers, you can just look at your wrists for a clue as to what to write. These cufflinks by Shapeways are subtle, sturdy, and affordable. They only take 21 business days to be manufactured and surely to become treasured heirlooms.
So, if you’re anxiously chomping at the bit in hunt of a gift, place an order for a set of custom links and give Dad or that grad an IOU telling him that his wrist-rocks are on the way.
While we tend to focus our site on luxury products and services, we are cognizant of the fact that our readers are “average Joes,” too! (but, not Joe, the plumber) So, when we stumbled upon Poof, we felt that it was our responsibility to introduce this product to the masses- not just for the benefit of our 150,000+ readers, but for the benefit of everyone around them!
Poof is magic in a bottle. To quote their site, “It’s five minutes until your 9:00 a.m. board meeting. The coffee [obviously not Nespresso ] you had to wake you up starts to churn. You enter the restroom and see a bunch of your co-workers gabbing. What do you do?
Poof it! Just a few drops of this liquid deodorizer in the toilet water and a translucent seal traps your odors in the water, releasing a refreshing scent of Japanese Mint to fill the air! Created for the sophisticated and bathroom conscious, Poof is packaged in an appealing yet discreet bottle that easily slips into your purse, pocket, or the palm of your hand.”
Now, while we’d like to say that our excrement doesn’t stink, we all know that early morning coffee, after a night of cheap Chinese and boozing can take its toll. We found that Poof not only stood up to its claims of leaving the air “poop-less,” but that one bottle was able to last for an incredibly long time. This is the perfect solution for the next time you have to sleep at your girlfriend’s place, go to visit her family, or have to run a 7am meeting after taking clients out the night before. So, if you’re a little concerned about the freshness of the air after you do your “duty,” then pocket some Poof and protect your reputation (and the wallpaper); we know that you and your co-workers will appreciate it!
While nothing is more fun than a tin of Jiffy Pop over the BBQ on warm summer night, it kind of sucks to be the one to stand in the rain over a BBQ to just have popcorn on a rainy movie night. And while you could probably make the Jiffy Pop in the kitchen over the range, we all know that the popcorn really doesn’t taste that good, and the fun is the nearly bursting aluminum tin on the BBQ as everyone watches in awe (and fear that you won’t take it off in time). So, in the event that your stuck in your share house on a rainy night, we’d like to suggest an easier, cleanier, and probably healthier option, the Catamount Microwave Popcorn Popper.
The Popper is made from laboratory quality glass, and is 100% idiot proof (both in making the popcorn and in being the dumb-ass that drops the Popper). All you have to do is fill the bottom of the Popper with a single layer of kernels, add the butter to the melting lid, place the Popper in the microwave, put it on high for 3 minutes, and then salt and serve. EASY! Now, if you want to get creative, after making the popcorn, you can flavor it with spices, sugar, cinnamon and the list goes on and on. In fact, we actually made dill-infused butter, and then salted it with garlic and hot-pepper. Talk about some flavorful popcorn! So, in the event that it’s raining, and you still want to salvage the night, be sure to have a Catamount Microwave Popcorn Popper in the cupboard- it really is a true summer necessity!
In keeping with the theme of uncluttered weekend bags, we think we have found a new summer necessity, Leatherman Freestyle CX. This handheld wonder tool features not only an ever useful (and incredibly sharp) locking pocketknife, but also needlenose pliers, regular pliers, wire cutters, and hard-wire cutters. While you may be wondering why you would need pliers, we’d like to remind you that nothing is worse than a rainy night with a dead TV. Now, we’re not saying that you actually will know how to fix a TV just by buying the Freestyle CX, but we do think that you’ll at least stand a chance of saving the day, and helping reconnect the DVD player to the TV with a broken wire by having the CX tucked away in your bag. And, in case you’re still not convinced you need it, did we happen to mention that it has a belt clip—who doesn’t love stuff on his belt!?!
Let it be known, we’re boat-shoe addicts. There’s something about the ease of how they just slip on, on their versatility being perfect with shorts, jeans, slacks, and their ability to take a beating and look the better for it. Best of all, they are summer! Nothing screams summer like sockless summer nights and your favorite boat shoes. Given the aforementioned, you can imagine our excitement when we stumbled upon one of Sperry’s greatest creations, the Limited Edition Authentic Original Boat Shoe.
This fine suede creation is beautifully hand-sewn and features Tru-Moc construction for durable comfort. The supple leather is stain and water resistant making it ideal for whatever weather you encounter, and the rubber outsole has razor-cut “Wave Siping” technology to make sure that you don’t slip as you dodge the deluge. Taken together, this is not just a fine looking shoe, it is a phenomenal summer shoe for those who don’t want to pack their entire shoe collection, but want to be prepared for any and every summer situation.
While we love the work-wardrobe freedom that summer affords us, we truly despise Mondays. To be honest, there’s nothing worse than having a great, relaxing weekend out east, and having to drag yourself to work on Monday morning pretending that you care about the papers you push and the numbers you crunch. However, just because you’re at work, doesn’t mean that you can’t treat yourself to a little gastronomic solace, to help make the time go by- if possible. As you all know, we’ve been Nespresso fans since the beginning. We’ve loved them since they introduced the Romeo through us, and have always been amazed by their creativity in both machines and coffees. Which is why, you probably aren’t surprised to learn that we are perpetually drooling (and also quite jittery on a caffeine high) over their three new international espresso blends, Indryia from India, Rosabaya de Colombia, and Dulsao do Brasil.
Indriya combines a selection of finest Arabica with a touch of Robusta from India’s major coffee states- Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. This southeast blend releases an invigorating aroma that energizes you on a dull Monday and has a flavor of intense espresso that jolts you from your desk. As your palate sores with flavor you notice hints of cocoa, cloves, pepper, and gentle nutmeg. Taken together, it’s a cornucopia of flavor that’s blended to introduce you to your day and get you going at a racing pace.
Rosabaya de Colombia (aka pink-berry from Colombia in Espanol), is made from Columbian Arabicas in the high plateaus of the Cauca and Narino Departments in the south and southwest regions of Columbia. It is described as having a delicate acidity, that is interspersed with notes of wine and fresh fruit. On our sampling, we think the full-bodied fruit hits you first, giving robust open flavors of ripe strawberry, cranberry, red currant and black currant. After finishing the last sip, you’re treated to a long finish that lingers on the palate with a rich berry sweetness and hearty coffee flavor. We believe that this is the ideal mid-day espresso that gives you the caffeine that you need to proceed, but also gives you the sweet treat that you deserve after making it through a Monday morning.
Dulsao do Brasil is crafted from the extremely fragile and uber exclusive Red and Yellow Boubon coffee varieties. These beans are grown in a limited quantity in the coveted hilly Pocos de Caldas region of Braszil. Upon hitting your palate you’ll also appreciate a sweet sense, but drastically different than the coffee above. Instead of berries, you taste hints of fresh nectar, golden honey, pure syrup, and even honeydew. As the flavor explodes in your mouth you then taste the base, a firm cereal/meal flavor with hints of malt. This is the ideal coffee for mid to late afternoon, as you prepare for the final push before you call it a day.
In summary, we are enthralled with these three new coffee blends. Our Nespresso machine has never whirred as often as it has during these taste tests, and we were sad to see the inside of empty sleeves. Indryia from India, Rosabaya de Colombia, and Dulsao do Brasil are truly coffee masterpieces that can definitely be enjoyed any time day/night, but will surely be appreciated as you walk your butt into the office on another dull Monday. Look, what else are you going to get excited about on Monday—the weekend is 4 days away!
When it comes to assembling a summer wardrobe, you have to take a number of variables into account. For example, you don’t want to fill your closet with tons of printed t-shirts, so you buy plain t-shirts, ones that can be worn in the winter under a sweater, or comfortably around the house year round. You don’t want to buy polos in a million-and-one colors, because you 1) honestly don’t look good in every color, 2) are going to fill your closet with shirts that you can only wear for summer and a little spring/fall, 3) can branch out beyond just a polo or t-shirt in the summer. Of course, we could go on and on and on about our gripes and sentiments about summer clothing, but instead, we’ll just tell you what we think you need to have, to not only make sure that you look great, but also so that you don’t waste your time and money on tons of crap. The answer, Barbour Competition Polo, 215gm.
To be blunt, you need this polo, and just this polo. It is made from super soft 100% cotton (215gm), features a generous collar with two buttons, a wonderfully comfortable athletic cut that doesn’t make you look boxy or fat (a feat in itself), side vents that make it look great tucked in or out, and herringbone tape to reinforce the sides and the collar. Taken together, this shirt is THE shirt to beat. Now, of course, we love this polo for all the adjectives and descriptors above, but we also are head-over-heels for it because no one else will be wearing this at your next BBQ. Sure you could sport a horse on your chest, or even pop-the-collar if you want to stand out, but in the end of the day, everyone wears the same thing. Be different, get a polo shirt that will invigorate your wardrobe and also, quite possibly, stir up some conversation and get you noticed. Need any more reasons why to get this?
When it comes to summer drinks, there truly is no other option than a great rosé. Now sure, you could go to the local store and get yourself a bottle of pink wine and sip it with friends, but that’s not really what summer is about. Summer drinking is about being carefree, relieving the stresses of the year, and indulging yourself as your bask in the sun. So, in keeping with the theme of bringing you not only the most exclusive products, but also the most desirable objects, we bring to you the coveted Armand de Brignac Rosé —truly THE drink of Summer 2009.
As we told you back in April, Armand de Brignac is taking the champagne-world by storm. Their uber-exclusive champagne is rarely in stock, even at its high-end price range. The quality and character of their champagne has been said to rival the great labels (Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, Cristal), while their bottle and it’s presentation puts them in a class of their own. And when it comes to the Armand de Brignac rosé, this champagne epitomizes summer exclusivity. It not only comes at a steep price ($400+), it comes filled with wonderful flavor. The champagne is a blend of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier; making for a flavor-forward bouquet that blossoms on your pallet and leaves you with notes of strawberry and black currants. It truly tastes like no other champagne we have had before, and we were greatly disappointed that it is only a 750ml bottle.
So, if you’re looking to blow the top off your first summer party, then you really have no other option than the Armand de Brignac Rosé. It is a champagne that was designed for celebration and is perfectly suited for Summer 2009!
What better way to kick-off Summer 2009 than with a brand-new pair of kicks! You see, your summer sneaker has to meet a number of criteria. It first and foremost has to be comfortable; so, all those clunky shoes are out. Second, it has to be lightweight; which means that anything that is made from leather or is bigger than a low-cut shoe is out, too. Third, it has to scream summer! After hunting for way too long for a shoe that meets those three criteria, we found and instantly fell in love with the Pro-Keds Royal Lo Canvas sneaker!
This fine looking shoe is extremely lightweight and made from a durable yet breathable canvas. The moldable rubber sole affords you superb comfort and the reinforced rubberized toe protects your toes as you gallivant from event to event. Most importantly, this classic white summer shoe looks absolutely awesome with a pair of shorts, jeans, or slacks. We really cannot think of an outfit that would not look great with these kicks! So, as you start to build your Summer 2009 wardrobe, we recommend you start from the bottom up, and get yourself a pair of these fabulous shoes. These shoes are Summer 2009!
After a short reprieve, we're now well-rested and super-charged for Summer 2009! Over the last month, we found hundreds of products and services to feature, and sorted out the very best. So, go get a cup of coffee, call your friends, and let them know that Spungle is back-in-business, and going to blow you away with some outstanding reviews!
In a time when you have no choice but to put your best foot forward, you cannot risk having a single hair out of place. Sure you could slop your head with gobs and gobs of hair goo, or you could actually display an element of class, and carry a proper comb like a well refined man. While we do not support killing pachyderms to make combs and pianos, we do not see anything wrong with using modern chemistry to create high quality resins that just happen to remember ivory. As such, the Mock Ivory Comb by Penhaligon's is truly the gentleman’s accessory. It is only 8” which means it fits perfectly in your briefcase (and please tell us you’re using a briefcase), and has not only a great look, but also a great feel. It glides seamlessly through even the most tangled of doos, and has lasted our relentless daily torture. So, if you’re looking to put your hairs in place before you walk into that next business meeting, then look no further than this fine wanna-be ivory comb!
We recently went to a NYC benefit and realized that everyone dressed the same. Sure, there was variety in the tuxedo styles, but for the most part, people all looked uniform from a distance. However, when we sat down at our table of eclectic NYC minds, we realized that the tuxedo actually does lend itself to creativity, specifically in the accessories. So, we took a perusal of what was being flashed and flaunted, and absolutely fell in love with a pair of cufflinks. In fact, for the first time in a long time, we are openly admitting that someone else saw these cufflinks first, but just have to admit that they are too cool to keep to ourselves. So, without further ado, meet the Bulldog Cufflinks by Dunhill.
These uber-cool sleeve accoutrements are handcrafted from sterling silver and are approximately an inch in diameter. Thanks to a gentle curve in the post, these little puppies sit perfectly flat on your cuff, displaying your coolness to all those around. In addition, they have an easy to manage swivel back that makes them easy to put on / take off, which makes them easy to pass around and flaunt. To say that we’re hot for these cufflinks is an absolute understatement—these are must haves for the summer season of benefits; screw the recession!
With Spring ’09 officially in full force, we’re not too far away from weekends in the country. And while we all realize that the schlep “out of town” involves bringing not only clothes, but also food and other goodies, we are well aware that just because you’re “schlepping,” you don’t have to look like a “schlepper.” So, we’ve gone hunting high-and-low for our favorite weekend luggage items, and will bring those to you over the next few weeks. To start, we’re going to introduce you to our favorite tote, the Filson Tin Cloth Tote.
This durable, yet stylish bag is made from Filson’s renowned tin cloth and features a nylon taffeta lining. In addition, the straps are made from light and comfortable cotton webbing, making this an extremely lightweight and manageable tote. While we’re not always the biggest fan of the tote because of the threat of rain, we realize that sometimes you just need a bag that can hold a baguet and a couple of cans of soup. So, if you’re looking to tote as you schlep, then look no further than this extremely affordable tote from our friends at Filson.
As you know, iPod speaker docks are a dime a dozen. You can waste hours upon hours comparing different styles and features. So, in an attempt to save you from this horribly mundane task, we perused the current list of “hot docks,” and found what we believe to be the most bang for the buck, the Altec Lansing inMotion iM600.
This sleek speaker system features a great compact design while packing in a whole slew of functions. This acoustically well-balanced dock not only does justice to your jazz collection, but also features video output, auxiliary input, a full functioning remote control, and an FM radio. In addition, as opposed to many of its competitors, it actually has respectable battery time; with the average charge lasting 5+hrs of continuous playback. Taken together, this little package packs a whole lot of punch, and definitely keeps you bopping to your favorite beats for hours upon hours.
When it comes to handcrafted mobile phone cases, we’ve always turned to Vaja. Their styling and quality manufacturing puts them in a category that is scores above the rest. This is why we were eager to protect our beloved Blackberry Bold with the new Balance by Vaja. This leather beauty has an extremely sleek design and smooth leather finish. We love the low-profile design and, of course, are huge fans of the optional ultraclip. Although it takes time for your case to make it all the way up from Argentina, there’s something to be said for a custom case that can be personalized with text/graphics and is available in a palette of colors. So, if you’re looking to make some folks jealous the next time you slap your phone on the table, then be sure to order yourself a Balance before everyone reads this review!
Sometimes it’s just hard to find the right shirt for the night. You have tons of button-downs but they all sorta look the same. Some with big collars, some with small collars, some need collar-stays, but when it comes down to it, they pretty all can be worn at work and then reused for a night on the town. That’s why we went searching for a new take on the “going out” shirt and are pleased with our find, the Phillips Woven Shirt by Ever.
This simple, cotton, oxford woven shirt features a simple, clean design, a mid-width collar that does not need collar-stays, a spot of pizzazz on the shoulders with the addition of epaulettes. The shirt is cut short enough that it doesn’t need to be tucked if you’re feeling a little wild, but is long enough to be tucked if you need to clean-up your act. All in all, it’s a shirt that is 100% not for work, and designed for 100% fun. So, why not add a little fashion to your spring wardrobe and pick-up this extremely affordable and great looking shirt? We know you’re going to love it!
After finding out that the Perfect Pushup wasn’t that unique of a find and that our readers had been using them for quite some time, we started looking for other home “workout stuff.” We learned that you can do a million and one things with doorknobs, door-jams, and other home installations. In thinking about how we could maximize the utility of our precious NYC space, we investigated the current market of home work-out equipment and found out that the manufacturers of the Perfect Pushup actually make a wonderful counterpart called the Perfect Pullup!
This easy to install contraption fits any doorframe from 27” to 36” wide and can be setup/taken-down in a manner of seconds. The kit features the pullup bar, 2 swing arms, 2 rotating handles, and an instructional manual (thankfully). After using this setup for literally just a few days, we found that we were not only able to get a great workout in the comfort of our office, but that we were also becoming incredibly sore. These pull-ups are rough! According to the site, the Perfect Pullup lets you do an innumerable number of painful exercises including but not limited to Australian Pullups and Standing Rows. We’re still not really sure why this isn’t called the Painful Pullup, but we do believe that if the mantra of “No Pain, No Gain” holds true, that this setup is sure to give you a ton of gain!
While some would argue that loafers have replaced the old-fashioned “lace-ups” of yester-years, we think that the ubiquity of loafers has gone too far. In fact, we openly admit that we miss toggled shoes, which seem to have gone by the wayside with laced shoes. So, in an attempt to reconnect with our bar-mitzvah era shoes, we went hunting for hot “toggles” for Spring '09, and happily found the Sperry Gold Cup Toggle!
This fine looking shoe takes a new twist on the classic toggle by featuring a single functional pull-through for the laces. As opposed to tying your loafers (which is sooo 2008), with these bad-boys you just slip your foot in and zip that toggle up. In addition to being incredibly fashionable, they also are unbelievably comfortable! They are lined in uber-plush deerskin, feature “Memory-Foam” to contour your foot, have an EVA cushion midsole, and have “Vibram non-marking rubber outsole pads with Wave-Siping for Ultimate Wet / Dry Traction.” Taken together, this is the perfect shoe for Spring ‘09 for when you want something classically comfortable for the office, and simply perfect for a weekend get together.
When it comes to spring fashion, we always find ourselves at an interesting crossroad. One part of us wants to zip right to the summer collection and bring out the bright colors, cotton blends, and warm weather accoutrements. The other part of us realizes that spring in NYC is totally unpredictable and that it would be unwise to put the winter attire into storage. So, in an attempt to spruce up the wardrobe, yet prepare for mildly, crappy weather, we went hunting for the perfect spring coat, and happily stumbled upon the Flyweight Chelsea Quilted Jacket from one of our favorite haberdasheries, Barbour.
This update to the classic Barbour line of quilted jackets features a front zip with the classic Barbour pull under a studded front flap, a funnel collar, studded pocket flaps, and a great zipped pocket that’s perfect for your Blackberry. As opposed to many other Barbour products that feature the classic box-esque British cut, this great jacket has a great trim profile that is accentuated by adjustable studded waist tabs. It truly is the profile of this jacket that makes it perfect over your suit or over your blazer on your way out for the night. And, as the weather warms up, it’s perfect over a simple tee for a casual yet chic urban look.
Although we love going to the gym, we openly admit that we don’t get to go as often as we’d like. And while we are committed to having a totally healthy lifestyle (eating right, drinking in moderation, wearing only fashionable clothing, etc.), we realize that some days we think that skipping the gym is simply unacceptable. This is why we went hunting for home “alternative” workout options. We tried a number of different crunchers, pushers, and pullers, and were less than thrilled with all of them. Then, one day, while carelessly flipping through the pages of some random men’s magazine we stumbled upon the Perfect Pushup. We figured that these rotating handles were just another gimmick, like all the other crap we had tested. But, being that we were desperate to find a product to feature, we decided to give them a try. Well folks, we’re to say that not only are these absolutely positively not crap, that these little handles are the secret to a powerhouse workout! After just a few weeks of these simple wonders, we have found ourselves in excellent shape—we’re building muscle, toning up, and getting ready for a big time summer!
“The Perfect Pushup was developed by a US Navy SEAL using the latest in biomechanics and engineering to help you achieve better results from your pushup workouts. Smooth rotating handles accelerate results by engaging more muscles in the arms, chest, shoulders, and back. It also helps reduce strain on wrists and elbows, and helps to stabilize and strengthen the shoulder joint.
You will notice the comfort and effectiveness of the Perfect Pushup on the very first try! The Perfect Pushup units have comfortable rubberized grips, stable 8" bases with rubber bottoms, and smooth, long lasting steel ball bearing rotational systems.”
Now, being that we became nearly instantly addicted to these handles, we were torn about what we needed to take out of our luggage so that we could bring these handles on our road-trips. Well, thankfully we perused their website before deciding to ditch a pair of shoes, because the geniuses behind the Perfect Pushup, also make an awesome on-the-go set, called the Mobile Unit.
“Perfect Pushup Mobile Unit uses the latest advances in biomechanics and engineering to give you better results faster. Each handle snaps securely into a non-slip base and stows in a zippered neoprene case that's compact and easy to stash in your briefcase, backpack, or office drawer.”
So, if you’re looking to bulk up, tone up, and make your girlfriend shut (about your gut, etc..), then look no further than the Perfect Pushup. We guarantee that after a few short weeks that you will be absolutely hooked, and craving for harder, longer workouts—and we also guarantee that you’ll be leaps and bounds closer to that body that you want for Summer 2009!
When it comes to men’s pants, we’re head-over-heels for Bonobos. There’s something about the way that they fit (perfectly), the way that they wear (like iron), and the way that they feel (amazing), that makes us crave their pants. This is why we couldn’t help but be a giant bunch of dorks and feature these rad pants for St. Patty’s Day-- the famed Seamus McFlys by Bonobos.
Look, if we trust our butts in Bonobos, don’t you think should trust your St Patty’s Day tuchas in a pair of these mean, green, Irish-esque, corduroy dreams?
Although it’s March, we still have some chilly days ahead of us. And while you could always “layer it up” to stay warm, we’ve come to realize that “de-layering” is a process that clutters prime closet real estate. So, we went hunting for a warm yet lightweight late-winter / early-spring jacket, and happily found the Nitrous Jacket from our friends at Mountain Hardwear.
Featuring a futuristic design, created from their proprietary EcoSensor Ripstop material, and graciously stuffed with 800-Fill Goose Down, this gorgeous jacket weighs in at whopping 11oz or a measly 350grams!
Remember, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb- get this jacket and be ready to fight the lion head-on as you schlep to and from work!
Being that we not only bounce around from meeting to meeting, but also from city to city, we are always in need of a small handy pen. Sure we’ve done the expensive “wow” pen that looks great in your pocket and costs $10 a month on refills, but we’re in a recession kids, and we have to play the part. So, in an attempt to live the Boy Scout Motto of “Be Prepared,” we went hunting for the perfect pocket pen and fell in love with the Lamy Pico.
This tiny bullet of a pen goes from pocket-sized to full-size with one swift motion. Upon extending the shaft, the ballpoint tip is exposed and you are prepared to sign your life (and your receipts) away. Once you’re done, a gentle push on the back of the pen easily closes the shaft, and it’s ready to go back in your pocket where it belongs. Just think, not only can you whip out your own pen next time you’re asked to sign a document, but you can make quite the gesture by closing your pen and putting it back into that tiny pocket in your jeans. This really is the last pen you’ll need!
While we like to be always ready to take a photo with our point-and-shoot camera, we typically find ourselves frustrated with the fact that we don’t have all the features that we’ve come to love from our full-sized DSLRs. However, as technology has advanced, and circuitry/sensors have shrunk, we have begun to become pleasantly surprised by what can fit in the palm of your hand. Case in point, the new Casio Exilim EX-FC100; a camera that offers “offer a high-speed 30 shot-per-second burst rate and high-speed movies at a maximum of 1000 fps.” Simply, unbelievable!
We started playing around with this camera just after it was released at CES, and we must admit that we are pleasantly surprised! Although it is not as small as many of the other models in the Exilim line of cameras, we found that the extra few millimeters of girth were quickly forgotten when we found ourselves scrolling through tons of functions. Here are some of the highlights courtesy of Casio’s press [modified] release:
30 shot-per-second high-speed burst shooting ensures that every crucial moments is captured The FC100 can take up to 30 shots per second of high-resolution 6.0-megapixel images. What’s more, it can save up to 25 frames prior to the instant that the shutter button is actually pressed, so even if the user hits the shutter a bit late, that special moment will not be missed. The number of shots per second can be set at 30, 15, 10, 5, 3 or auto, and the user can set the total number of shots in one burst at 30, 20, 10 or 5.
Easy, convenient functions make the most of high-speed burst shooting. This camera can automatically record just the best of the images captured in a high-speed burst. Also, a number of images from a burst can be combined into a single image. It is this high-speed burst capability that offers the functionality for easily creating photos precisely in accordance with the wishes of the user. After taking a set of shots, there is no need to go to the trouble of manually selecting the best one.
Slow Motion View By pressing a dedicated button during shooting, it is possible to view the movement of the subject in slow motion on the LCD monitor. The user can press the shutter while viewing the LCD monitor, selecting the perfect moment to capture from a scene that looks as if time has been slowed down.
High-Speed Anti-Shake and High-Speed Night Scene functions These functions work because the camera can combine a number of images taken in burst mode, and then align the position of the subject to form a single shot. This means that, even without a tripod, zoom photography and night shots are beautifully rendered, virtually making photo blur a thing of the past.
High-Speed Best Selection To ensure that a natural, fleeting smile is captured, this camera can automatically select the best image from a set of images taken in burst mode, with the subject smiling, with no photo blur, and with the subject’s eyes open. The best image will be saved.
Lag Correction The FC-100 can make it possible to set in advance the time lag between the moment that the user wants to capture and the actual time of taking the picture. This way, it is possible to capture that precious instant at any time, with minimal lag. This works because the camera selects from the images it temporarily stores in its burst mode, buffers the one image that was taken at the specified interval prior to the shutter being released, and just that image is saved.
High-Speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps The camera has a high-speed movie function that can record motion that is ordinarily too fast for the human eye to see, and then play it back in ultra-slow motion. The frame rate can be set at 1000 fps, 420 fps or 210 fps. Also, even while recording a movie clip at the standard speed (30 fps), by pressing a single button the frame rate can be changed to the 210 fps high-speed mode.
HD Movie Function The HD Movie function will record beautiful videos at a size of 1280x720 pixels. Also, pressing the dedicated photo button while shooting an HD movie clip will capture a 6.0-megapixel still image.
So, as you can see, this ain’t your standard point-and-shoot. The FC-100 truly is a behemoth of a camera in a pocket-sized package. What’s more, this camera is a fraction of the price of a DSLR. Well, what are you waiting for? Pick one up here before they’re on back-order; we suspect that this will be the camera of 2009 to beat!
Despite being in a recession, we are always on the hunt for the best luxury products. Recently we had the extreme pleasure of sampling the coveted Armand de Brignac Brut Gold Champagne and were absolutely blown away. This champagne affords you an experience like you have never had before!
For starters, the Armand de Brignac Brut Gold is presented in a gold-plated bottle with a pewter crest and set inside a beautiful laquered box. As per their site, “Armand de Brignac's unmistakable gold-plated bottle has its roots in the French fashion industry and its reputation for opulence. Originally conceived by the celebrated Andre Courreges fashion house, the striking bottle is decorated at a single site in France's Cognac region and is fitted with four pewter labels that are hand-applied to the surface of the bottle.”
Next, once you open the bottle with that distinct champagne “pop” that we’ve all come to love, the room is quickly filled with a cornucopia of floral aromas. Being that the Brut Gold cuvée is a blend of Pinot noir, Pinot meunier and Chardonnay, the flavor is unparallel with any other champagne we have tried before. In fact, we would argue that it is reminiscent of Krug's Grande Cuvée yet full-flavored like Mumm's (Napa) Cuvée. The floral accents are definitely flavor-forward, while the body has warm, fruit accents that are liberated by the effervescence. Ultimately, you are left with a very clean palette and hints of minerals and earthy green flavors.
In summary, the Armand de Brignac experience is the true definition of luxury. From the sheer beauty of the bottle’s presentation, to the complexity of its flavor, to the exclusivity of this brand, we cannot think of a finer champagne for your next celebration. So, save up a few bucks, splurge on Armand de Brignac, and enjoy your champagne-induced amnesia of this current recession. We guarantee it will be nothing shy of phenomenal!
While it may seem odd for us to be reviewing a flashlight, we go on enough travel adventures (ski trips, Hampton houses, Fire Island houses, etc.) that a flashlight always comes in handy. So, we went hunting for what we could call the best pocket flashlight, and were pleasantly surprised by the Novatac EDC 120E.
According to Novatac’s site, “The EDC (Every-Day-Carry) Flashlight is designed to meet the rigorous reliability and durability requirements of Firefighting, Public Safety, First Responder and civilian personnel. Available with 120 Lumen maximum brightness, the system surpasses most performance requirements. Its 1x3 inch, 3.1 ounce, and virtually indestructible design provides the user with the ultimate solution to most any lighting requirement. The EDC-120 intelligent power supply automatically reduces output to preserve the battery as it starts to run down, reducing the risk that the user will ever be left in the dark. Standard extended button and pre-programmed with three brightness levels and Emergency strobe, the EDC can be adjusted to suit the situation or to conserve power.”
This pocket-sized wonder out-performed every flashlight we tried. Not only did it last longer, but it was lighter, brighter, and easier to use. Furthermore, since we typically need a light with us when we least expect it, by having something small enough to fit in a briefcase or a carry-on, we can ensure that we will never be left in the dark. So, if you’re looking to brighten someone’s day (or night), then look no further than the Novatac EDC 120E.- it really outshines the competition!
We’ll start by saying that one of us claims to have had the same “perfect hoodie” since 1998. It was a blue reversible Dolce and Gabbana Sport hoodie that featured loose pockets and a big, wide zipper. Over 10 years it was paired with jeans, slacks, shorts, t-shirts, button-downs, and seen at almost any and every venue from Montauk to Manhattan. However, due to an unhealthy obsession with keeping it clean, it started to fall apart from too many washes, and as such, its owner was left hoodie-less for months. All of that changed when we stumbled upon the Ever Hoodie.
So, in case you’re not “getting” what’s so special about a hooded sweatshirt, let's take you through the Ever Hoodie and show you why it is quite possibly our “newest perfect hoodie.” For starters, the outer is constructed from 100% cotton fleece. This affords the wearer an extremely soft and relaxed outer-part that not only looks great, but feels great, too. The inside, which is what quite possibly makes this hoodie so damn fabulous, is that it is lined in 100% cotton thermal. Taken together, you have a medium weight hoodie that is extremely warm. Furthermore, it is incredibly soft and relaxed—making it perfect with just a t-shirt, layered over a button-down, or even under a blazer or outer jacket.
In addition to being warm and soft (which by the way, seems to conjure up thoughts of a Snuggie), this hoodie is fantastically fashionable. The length is short enough that it looks great with hip-hugging jeans, but also long enough that it won’t reveal plumber's crack! The draw-strings are the perfect width such that they do not detract from the sweatshirt, but also don’t warrant being removed; in addition they are adorned with copper tips making for a nice plus.
Lastly, and most importantly, the hoodie features big, deep pockets. Not only can you store a ton of crap in them, you can quite possibly spend a day in your hoodie and a bathing suit not worrying about holding your wallet/keys/phone/etc.
So, if you’re as neurotic about your clothes as we are, and really want to add something to your wardrobe that you are guaranteed to love for seasons and years to come, then look no further than the Ever Hoodie. To say that this is the perfect hoodie, might even be an understatement!
In weather like this it’s hard to think about summer attire. In fact, we would argue that when it’s this cold, summer footwear is probably the furthest thing from your mind. However, our favorite summer shoe manufacturer, Sperry Topside, has been hard at work making tons and tons of styles that not only are perfectly designed for careless summer days, but also for the harsh reality of winter in the city. Case in point, the men’s Gold Driver Penny Loafer!
This fine looking shoe is made from butter-soft, supple hand-sewn leather. It is treated with a stain and water resistant coating to ensure that it survives your worst walking commutes, and even sports 18k gold plated eyelets that will not corrode even under the saltiest treks to work. And while these shoes are absolutely beautiful and perfectly suited for a sockless, warm, summer day, they are as sharp as you can get even in the coldest of conditions when accented with a pair of your favorite argyles.
Now, while we would all agree that this shoe is a damn good looking shoe, the strength of this shoe is not in its unbelievable construction (Vibram soles, water-coating, etc.); it is in the wearer’s experience. When we first slipped our foot into this leather beauty, we were absolutely dumbfounded. The fit bordered on that of a slipper and the sound that was uttered was something that could be likened to a protracted “ahhhhhh.” The surreal comfort of this shoe is in part due to its genuine, deerskin lining, and its triple density footbead with memory foam. To be honest, we really don’t care why this shoe feels so good; we just absolutely are in love with these shoes! So, if you’re looking to spruce up your shoe collection, and follow the lead of Puxatony Phil, then look no further than the unbelievably comfortable year-round men’s Gold Driver Penny Loafer by Sperry!
As you can imagine, we personify the definition of technophile. We interdigitate technology into every aspect of our lives; from the moment we get up (alarm clock on our phone), to our first email, to a quick reminder email before we go to sleep. Without email we would not only be absolutely bored, we’d be sunk! Which is why on this day before Valentine’s Day, when people are hurrying around to find a last minute gift, we would like to remind you of the Peek.
When we first got word of Peek last year, we didn’t get it. We didn’t understand why anyone would want a budget device for his daily mobile email. However, after asking friends and family about their take on the device, we quickly realized that not everyone needs all the bells and whistles. In fact, we learned that most people just want to receive their email in an easy-to-use, easy-to-read format without tons of keystrokes and menus to peruse. So, in an attempt to fulfill our inner-curiosity about no-frills email machines and also better understand what makes something the product of the year, we got our hands on a Peek.
For starters, Peek is idiot proof. It works with most major email accounts (AOL, GMail, Yahoo), and only requires that you to enter your username and password to get started. After that, you’re all setup and ready to go (provided you've paid your $20/month for unlimited email and text). After banging away a few emails from the well-designed and extremely comfortable keyboard, we quickly realized that this device had some great utility for us email addicts. Sure, it doesn’t have a camera, a serious OS, or a bunch of 3rd party applications; but it does let you stay in touch with your contacts and drop an email at a moment’s notice.
When comparing the Peek to our favorite email machine (Blackberry Bold), you realize that the Peek which is 1/10 the price of the Bold without a contract ($50 vs $500), has the same size keyboard, similar sized screen, and about the same thickness. Sure the Bold can do tons and tons more than the Peek, but you buy the Peek because you want it to just do email (and maybe a text or two), nothing more. And an interesting twist, we found that the Peek was actually able to outlast the Bold on battery power; granted the Bold is on 3G and is running a ton more stuff behind the scenes, but when it came to pounding out an email, the Peek got it done long after the Bold was in need of another zap.
We feel that the Peek is the perfect device for the email-savy person who loves his cellphone and can’t be bothered with a smartphone. The Peek handles email beautifully and its form-factor complements the user experience. So, if you’re desperately looking for a gift for your favorite technophile, or you just want to be able to keep in touch with your beloved technophile, pick up a Peek or two. They’re cheap, they’re fun, and most importantly, they get the job done!
Although the days are slowly growing longer, it’s still dark as anything when you wake up in the morning. And even if you have good lighting, your mind is probably a little foggy with quasi-awake dreams of sugarplum fairies still dancing through your cerebrum. So, if you combine mental dullness with suboptimal lighting, you are perfectly setup to make one of the worst mistakes of the day—picking the wrong tie! So many times we see men in perfectly tailored suits, with impeccably ironed custom shirts, sporting G-d awful neckwear. Now, you could probably avoid this common calamity by either picking out your outfit before you go to sleep, or restocking your closet with a selection of Vittorio J ties—our new favorite neckwear design-house.
When we first opened the uber-lux box from Vittorio J, we didn’t know what to expect. We’ve sampled tons of ties before, and have always been moderately impressed that craftsmen are able to turn supple silks into critically important dress-wear. However, when we caught our first glimpse of these woven-beauties, we knew these weren’t your daddy’s ties!
What sets Vittorio J apart from other manufacturers is the commitment to using only rich full-thickness woven silk that not only holds a beautiful knot, but also flows with your body. In their reincarnation of the classic American business outfit, they have gone away from the slender wimpy ties that you see on 5th Avenue, and instead embraced the European standard of a full-body thickness that not only providers the wearer with an austere knot, but also with a substantial amount of “show” under the suit jacket. Taken together, their ties become the centerpiece of your outfit, allowing you to introduce style and variety into your collection of suits, by simply just changing your ties.
However, in taking this all into account, what really sets these ties apart from all their competitors is that these ties are made to last. They are thick; they are heavy; and their designs are all classics; you can wear a Vittorio J at your next night at the Met, tomorrow morning in the office, or even at Merkato 55 this weekend. Trust us, if you’re stuck on what to get your loved one for V-Day, look no further than a Vitorrio J tie. But, just be forewarned, that by giving him such a classic tie he might get the wrong impression- because this tie is designed to last, and he might think that you think your relationship is going to last too!
While some may argue that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, we strongly believe that men are highly complex creatures, and as such, the best way to seduce a man is to intrigue his nervous system. Which is why this next gift, the Vibe II by V-Moda, is the perfect acoustic nerve stimulator for that discriminating gift-recipient who claims to have anything and everything he ever wanted.
We’ll start by saying that we’re HUGE V-Moda fans. A few months back we had the extreme fortune of reviewing V-Moda Vibe Duo. We absolutely fell in love with these earphones after one guitar rip and head-thumping beat. And, after sporting these little-wonders for the last few months, we really thought that the mobile audio experience couldn’t get any better. Boy were we wrong! Once we put the Vibe II to the test, our wildest acoustic desires were satiated and we were in audiophilic bliss!
According to their site, “V-MODA’s Vibe II with Microphone is a distinct sensory experience of design and acoustic excellence. The pinnacle in quality construction, the revolutionary stainless steel alloy headphones/headset feature compatibility with the iPhone and iPod. One of the first in consumer electronics to use its unique metal manufacturing process, Vibe II with Microphone has a solid and substantial tactual sensation comparable to fine jewelry. The jewelry-like design incorporates a discrete microphone that blends seamlessly with a Kevlar reinforced woven fabric cable and a convenient call/music control feature that allows you to effortlessly switch between carrying on phone conversations and enjoying your music library. The newly fabricated plug features a 45-degree flexible design to allow an optimal range of motion while maintaining a sleek, sturdy metallic core and 24-carat gold-plated plug.
Featuring V-MODA’s world renowned organic signature sound, Vibe II with Microphone houses an all new V-MASQUE dynamic driver which boasts an unparalleled high-definition, 3D soundstage, invoking the sense of a live music experience through its vibrant bass, vivid mid-range, and vivacious highs.
Ergonomically designed for the most active lifestyle, the Vibe II with Microphone is accompanied by four sizes of medical-grade silicone fittings that enable the BLISS noise-isolating technology, and detachable sport earhooks featuring ACTIVE FLEX technology for a comfortable and secure fit.”
In looking back upon our fantabulous (fantastic mixed with a healthy dose of fabulous) V-Moda experiences, we’ve come to realize that this relatively new company has hit two home-runs with their aesthetically and acoustically designed earphones. The Vibe Duo was a great warm-up in what was in store for the Vibe II.
In summary, when looking to please that special someone, start at the top—the ears! We guarantee after just one song he will practically glue these buds to his ears, because V-MODA’s Vibe II sound stage is just that amazing! Now, if you’re looking to open dialogue between the two of you, this probably isn’t the best gift…
When it comes to cooking, most men are best at one-step processes—i.e. put meat on grill, take off when burnt. However, when the mercury drops most guys are forced indoors from their charcoal cooking refuges where they are typically banished from attempting to cook in the kitchen. Well, thanks to Le Creuset, the timeless cast-iron cooking geniuses, men now have a proper place in the kitchen- prominently at the only source of open flame in the kitchen, the stove!
Behold the Le Creuset grill. This extremely durable stove-top grill is perfectly designed for those who want to grill their meats/veggies/concoctions in the male one-step cooking process. According to Le Creuset, “cast iron has long been a favorite grilling surface, due to its superior heat retention properties. The raised grill lines ensure maximum contact with food and enable oils and fats to drain away, while creating the all-important fancy searing. This is a must have when entertaining friends.” We think that Le Creuset should also mention that it is loved by men around the world because it is reminiscent of outdoor grilling heaven.
We found the Le Creuset grill to be above and beyond those “lean & mean grilling machines.” For starters, we were not only able to control the heat of the grill; we were able to assess our cooking by visualizing the cooking process; we were able to add on marinades without it running down into a useless catch-basin, and most importantly, we were able to flip our burgers, which is the highlight of grilling. In our side-to-side comparisons to other stove-top grills, we found the Le Creuset grill to outperform EVERY COMPETITOR because of its heating consistency, perfect size when cooking for a family/group, and easy clean-up.
There really is no other option for an indoor grill than the Le Creuset grill. If you’re looking to please your man by giving him what he’s wanted all winter long, or if you’re looking to divide up the cooking responsibility in your house by putting your man to work, then look no further than the Le Creuset grill. We absolutely believe that after one grilling experience that any man will feel fully comfortable in the kitchen—at least one where he can flip burgers on a cast iron grill!
In thinking about the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, you have to think about something that he would want, something that he would use, and something that he would likely not buy for himself. I’m sure you’re thinking that the potential gifts are boundless, but when you’re actually faced with buying something, it’s much more difficult than you would think. This is why we’re devoting the next few days to giving you “perfect gift ideas” to help you one-up with your favorite guy and get on his good side. So, without further ado, we bring you the Victorinox Presentation Pro.
When we first were introduced to the Presentation Pro we were gleefully confused. We thought it was a great idea, but didn’t really “get it.” Why would anyone combine a thumb-drive with a bluetooth remote with a pocketknife? And then, after one simple Friday afternoon presentation to a potential client, we totally fell for the Presentation Pro.
The Presentation Pro is based upon the timeless Victorinox pocketknife frame. It has an easily accessible knife, file, and even sports a key-ring. Now, instead of featuring other tools such as a chainsaw or shotgun or whatever else they’re cramming into Victorinox knives these days, it features “32 GB of storage for your important files and presentations.” Furthermore, this pocket-wonder utilizes “secure data encryption technology allowing you to protect those files since they can only be accessed by recognition of your fingerprint.” This we thought was pretty amazing! Tack on top of that a Bluetooth presentation cue with the remote being housed in the knife, and you have “Swiss Army” take on what the road-warrior needs to keep in his pocket.
We found the Presentation Pro to be incredibly easy to use and perfectly sized. The remote was easy to conceal and was totally non-obtrusive. Now, we must admit that we did not try to bring this aboard an aircraft, but rumors have been leaking, that a blade of this size “may be” acceptable. From our standpoint, $300+ is a lot for a pocketknife- either leave it at home or pack it in some checked luggage—this thing is so amazing, you’d hate to have it confiscated. In conclusion, we’re HUGE fans of the Presentation Pro. It’s an amazing tool for the guy who needs to open presentation materials, file his nails, and pace around a room, all while flipping slides. It’s also a great tool for your favorite tech-junky who probably is drooling over this review and just dreaming about you getting this for him!
Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can talk about really important manly things, like Nespresso’s new varietals. This year our well-refined discriminating palettes are being tantalized by a unique Mandarin, a savory Crystallized Ginger, and flavor-forward Caramel.
With one sip Nespresso’s take on Mandarin flavoring, you are immediately transported to a rich citrus grove. This unique blend of Livanto provides you with an awakening yet soothing cornucopia of flavor that balances zesty citrus with humble bitterness. We would be lying if we were to say that we’ve ever tried anything like this before!
The Crystallised Ginger definitely takes the prize for innovation. This atypical flavor profile starts strongly acidic and spicy yet closes with a delicate tone of ginger. The fruity, unique, ginger flavor perfectly balances the rich bold premium Livanto blend.
When drinking Caramel you will uncontrollably utter a long protracted, “Ahhhhh.” This rich, delicate blend of sweet caramel is in perfect harmony with a vanilla undertone making this blend seem more like a dessert itself than a complement to your favorite baked treat. The inviting aroma of this savory blend quickly fills your kitchen/office with a blanket of toffee bliss. We cannot think of a better blend for a cold winter day when you just need to warm up your mind, body, and soul.
Although BHO has only been in office for 3 days, we’re starting to wonder when the news will start to be more upbeat. We all hear dismal news as we go to work in the morning; we then continue to hear the onslaught of more dismal news as the markets develop throughout the day, and then by the time we get home, it’s cold and dark, and there’s usually more dismal news. And while we really don’t know how to fix this horrendously depressing rat-race, we do know how to get you a reprieve from our financial doldrums when you do get home—via a martini!
You see, we can learn a lot from James Bond. No matter how stressed he was, no matter how close he was to dying, he always appreciated a good stiff drink to help him unwind. So, why should you be any different? Which is why, today’s product is one of our favorite fun products, the Professional Martini Maker by Waring.
This counter-top gem epitomizes idiot-proof (or alcoholic, your choice of words). All you have to do is dump in your liquor, add some ice, remember to put the top on, and plug it in. Badda-bing, badda-boom, your martini is perfectly mixed and seamlessly chilled. Now, in the event that you’re having a good day, one in which you don’t need to call upon the powers of James Bond, you can hit the “stir” button and have your martini whisked to perfection. However, if you’re feeling like you’re at your wits end, and really need a solid night of Octopussy (or happy endings), then be sure to hit the “shake” button and have your martini delivered to you James Bond style!
In summary, we don’t advocate drinking away your worries. But, if you are going to take up some drinking to help you get through this economic downturn, then at least do it right and make a proper martini. The Professional Martini Maker is the perfect addition to your favorite bachelor’s pad, broker’s pied-à-terre, or stressed out parent’s condo!
In reflecting upon our excitement about our newly inaugurated 44th President and also our country's extremely bleak financial status, we think this review is the absolute perfect review for today! Chances are, if you’re anything like us, you have a new sense of energy and hope about dear old BHO (Barrack Hussein Obama). In addition, if you’re anything like us, you’re also trying to cut your costs wherever possible. So, how do you combine these two diametrically opposed sentiments? Well, you find something extremely patriotic that is on sale. And ladies and gentleman, that’s exactly what we have done!
The Red, White and Blue Friendship Bracelet from one of our favorite jewelry designers, Links of London, is the perfect post-innaugural pick-me-up. It is made from vibrant hand-woven colored lanyard and accentuated with sterling silver. This bracelet not only proclaims your heartfelt patriotism, it also costs less than $100 (33% off original price), which shows that you’re also fiscally conservative (like that Palin chick who didn’t have a chance of stepping foot in the White House). So, if you’re looking to jazz up your hand, root for your country, invest a little in the economy, and still keep a wad of cash in your pocket, then this is the perfect gift for you!
On a cold winter day, at a time when the markets were down, and nothing but a frigid wind whipped through an eerily quiet concrete jungle, a man went for a shave. He went for this shave because he lost his sense of touch. On his way to work it was too cold to stop and talk, too depressing to start conversation, and too much energy to break his routine. At work he found himself working aimlessly in his cubicle, reading the same document over and over, laboring over the same boring and trite rebuttals that his opponent had used before, and forgetting to look in the mirror while washing his hands after taking a piss. And, when the man came home, he kissed his wife on the cheek, scratching her face, not caring about his complexion, because he forgot why he should care; until that faithful shave. You see, that man’s wife knew that his spirit was broken. She knew that he lost contact with his inner man-beauty and didn’t care about warm, smooth skin. His wife knew it had been so long since he pampered himself that he forgot why he needed to pamper himself. And so, his wife did what any self-respecting loving partner should do, she got him a haircut and shave at the New York Shaving Company!
The New York Shaving Company is unlike any other experience. Whether you are at their unbelievable boutique on Elizabeth Street, or their quaint new location in the famed Le Parker Meridien, your experience is guaranteed to be simply phenomenal!
The ultimate shaving experience starts with a series of oils, soaps, and lathers that are all devoid of harmful products and made for the most sensitive of skin. Then, as you can imagine, comes the straight razor- which is wielded by only the most highly qualified barbers with more years of experience than most of us are old. Finally, the shave is complete with another series of facial elixirs, potions, and masks. Taken together, it makes for an unbelievable way to pamper oneself without feeling too metrosexual or like your’e wasting your time on something you didn’t need—come on, we all need to shave, right?
To quote John Scala, the President and Founder, “In these hectic times, we are all moving at a mile a minute. We are working harder to makes ends meet and our time is a scarce commodity. The unfortunate result is that we are often forgetting to set aside time for the care of our body and soul. This is where we come in. Fashioned on the classic early 20th Century New York City Barbershop, The New York Shaving Company is the answer to life’s hustle and bustle. Like stepping into another time, you’ll immediately be enveloped in a sensory overload. From the aroma that fills the air to the soothing sounds and comforting furniture, relaxation is not far behind. Feel free to pick up one of our local newspapers, sip an espresso or any other complimentary beverage and prepare to have your cares simply melt away.”
So, if you’re looking to unwind and yet still feel like a man, then take a stroll down to Elizabeth Street or over to Le Parker Meridien. While we can’t guarantee that you will regain the hair on your bald spot or lose your man-boobs, we absolutely know that they can bring your face back to the way it felt during those great prepubertal years when you didn’t care about finances and bail-outs.
NOTE: If you’re a woman reading this review, feel free to send us an email to tips (at) spungle (dot) com saying “thank you.” Because, we just found you the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for him and spared you hours of shopping—in fact, we probably just gave you a couple extra hours to shop for yourself!
When it comes to staying warm on these frigid days, there really is only one option, cashmere. And since we have been having near-arctic weather for the last few weeks, we went hunting for knitwear so that we could stay warm during the winter while still maintaining a modicum of style. As you can imagine, it didn’t take us long to find ourselves perusing the Barbour collection of wonderful winter knitwear, and once we tried on their take on the classic crew neck sweater, we were sold!
Our obsession with this timeless classic stems from the fact that it is constructed from extremely high-quality 18-gauge cashmere. With that said, it is made in such a way that its warmth comes from the quality of the weave and not from the weight of the cashmere. The result is that this is an extremely lightweight yet unbelievably warm sweater. Of course, Barbour put a spin on this classic by making it available in a montage of colors, with blue lovat, being our favorite. In summary, this sweater should become the staple of your winter wardrobe. It is warm, comfortable, lightweight, and most importantly, classically fashionable!
To say that we have an unhealthy obsession with our Blackberrys is an understatement. If we’re not busy answering emails from tipsters or readers, we’re thumb-pounding away contacting companies, replying to friends/family/contacts on BBM, IM, e-mail, SMS, MMS, or just doing stupid fun features like Facebook, Google, etc. And while we’ll openly admit that only our boxers tend to get in between us and our beloved Blackberry devices, we have occasionally been known to favor the TV remote over the Blackberry in certain instances. Well, that was until we learned about Unify4Life!
When we first learned that we could use our Blackberry to control our home devices we were skeptical. We didn’t understand why we would want to do that and we doubted the potential power of the system. However, after a few moments of setup, and a whole lot of channel surfing from bed with a Blackberry in hand, we were quickly convinced that the AV|Shadow from Unify4Life is one of the most incredible inventions of 2008! (NOTE: Unify4Life is also all the buzz here at CES this year too!)
According to their site, “Place the AV|Shadow beside your equipment and plug it in. Your choice of setup in front of your equipment on your BlackBerry or on our website, gives you the ultimate flexibility to ensure that you're instantly able to control your equipment. Customize your buttons and activities to the way you will enjoy them. You can now make your personal smartphone your personal remote.
Enjoy the freedom of using your personal remote control in any room that has an AV|Shadow connected. You can add other family members with a BlackBerry allowing them to also instantly transform their smartphone.
Each personal remote also has our UnifyGuide™, providing you TV listing information just like your digital cable or satellite box. Now, you can plan your evening entertainment right on your phone. Use our search feature to quickly find shows or movies you want to watch and put them into your calendar as a reminder or add them to your favorites list along with your favorite channels.”
We found that the system was incredibly easy to setup and use. By having everything on our Bold, which was also on our home WiFi network, we found that we were looking up listing info on our Blackberry Bold web-broswer, and navigating the cable-box like a trained and certified cable-guy.
In summary, if you’re looking to integrate your Blackberry into the last sacred place in your house (the bedroom), then look no further than the AV|Shadow from Unify4Life. This little Bluetooth wonder will not only give you control of your entire A/V system, but also make you look like a total pimp/loser next time you’re in bed and someone asks you to put on Golden Girls and turn the volume up!
When it comes to shoes, we’re always on the hunt for the next best pair. With that said, we also realize that classics are just as important when assembling a wardrobe as well as this season’s hottest trend. In keeping these two competing themes in the back of our minds, we went hunting for the shoes that we’d want to wear on a daily basis that could also fit the bill if we wanted to go out at night. Thankfully the search ended quickly, because once we laid eyes on Superga’s fabulous designs, we were in love!
“In 1913 in Torino, Italy, Walter Martiny started the production of rubber-soled footwear branded with the Superga logo. In 1925 his designs expanded to included footwear with vulcanized rubber soles and the Superga 2750 Heritage style was born! After the war, Superga restarted production specializing solely in the production of high quality footwear. In the 1970s, Superga diversified to add sport shoes with technical attributes. Now the collections include Superga City leather collections and Superga Country rubber rain and outerwear boots in addition to the original Superga Vulcanized and Sport lines.”
The shoe that’s currently the object of our desire is the Firenze. This handsome shoe features an upper made of full grain leather, cotton lining for extra comfort, and a natural rubber outersole for added traction. We found that this shoe not only looked great, but that if felt great, too! The shoe looked awesome with jeans during the day, slacks at work, and with whatever was appropriate when going out at night. To say that we’re unhealthily obsessed with this shoe, might be an understatement! So, in summary, if you’re looking to jazz up your shoe collection while purchasing a shoe that will last more than one season, then look no further than the most fabulous Firenze by Superga!
For as long as we can remember, we’ve been Ray-Ban whores! There’s something magical about the classic aviator that was perfected by this optical giant. Which is why we were absolutely thrilled when we had the chance to experience the coveted Ltd. Edition White Gold Ray-Ban Caravan Ultra!
These little wonders are everything we’ve ever wanted in our favorite facial accoutrement and then some! For starters, they are plated in 18-carat white gold and have unique tortoiseshell earpieces. The glass features Ray-Ban’s highest level of technology to date, the P3 PLUS system- an armamentarium of polarizing power, anti-reflective protection, and an innovative water-repellent system. Being that that these glasses are for the super elite, each pair is numbered in titanium on the inside of the arm. Taken together, these glasses are the crème-de-la-crème of sunglasses and once they’re sold out, they’re gone for good. So, what are you waiting for? Get them now! And if $500 is a little too steep for your 2009 budget, here are some other great styles in the Caravan collection.
If you were lucky enough to get away over the holiday break we hope you took lots of photos to help remind you of the “good times” while we battle through this horrendous financial recession. And while you sit in your cubicle with likely nothing to do, we might recommend flipping through those photos to help pass the time. Now sure, you could look at your camera’s screen, iPhone, or computer screen to view your photos. But, that’s not really going to do much for a conversation piece when your boss walks by. So, we recommend that your spruce up your cube with our favorite digital photo frame from Insignia.
This technology-packed aesthetic gem is choc full of features! The 7" LCD screen has 15:9 aspect ratio and 800 x 480 resolution. The 128MB internal memory lets you save and manage your digital images while also supporting CompactFlash, Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick and xD-Picture Card memory card formats as well. There’s a USB 2.0 interface for easy connection to your computer and it automatically recognizes memory cards and plays a slideshow; ie no PC required in case you already pawned it for cash. You can display a single picture or slideshow with clock and calendar. In addition, it features auto rotation adjusting for landscape or portrait modes based on frame orientation. Lastly, it plays back MP3 and AAC audio formats for music slideshows
So, what are you waiting for? Take the plunge, get yourself a digital frame, load it up with shots of happy times, and suffer through your work day with an occasional happy thought and maybe even a smile!
Being that we’re just days away from our favorite vacation of the year (the break between Christmas and New Years), we thought it was only fitting to feature what is sure to be this winter’s hottest bathing trunks. We fell in love with Sundek a few months back and have been kvelling over them ever since. No matter which suit we try, we are always amazed by their commitment to making luxurious suits that not only look great, but feel great, too! Which is why this winter’s pièce de résistance, the Iridescent Board Shorts, get an A+ in our book.
These fab board shorts feature a 50% nylon / 50% polyester hybrid that no only flows well both in and out of the water, but also dries incredibly fast. The fly is simply adorned with a touch-tape design and the banded waist is uber-comfortable securing with lace-up ties. Of course, the suit features the hallmark of Sundek suits, the tri-color rainbow across the seat and the embroidered logo patch on the rear pocket.
Alll in all, this is a high-fashion highly-comfortable suit that is meant for the person who is looking to make a statement on the beaches of Miami, Palm Beach, or lido deck of your favorite cruise liner. So, if you’re absolutely panic stricken about what to get your loved one with only hours until Christmas (or mid Hanukkah), then look no further than this beautiful suit. You know they’ll use it next week, and it’ll definitely be the first suit they break out come summer 2009!
Now, if last week’s review left you looking for more Bluetooth goodies, then we have the perfect review for you. You see, this next product is not only perfect for your favorite Bluetooth addict, it’s also a gem for your favorite audiophile. In fact, judging from its popularity, and recent status as a Time Magazine Top 10 Gadget, it’s really perfect for everyone! We’re talking about the critically-acclaimed foxL Bluetooth speaker from Sound Matters.
We’ll start off by saying that we are absolutely obsessed with the foxL. We cannot believe how much sound we get from this tiny wonder. Every time we sync it up with our Blackberry or other Bluetooth device, we are blown away by the clarity and character of this wirelessly streamed music!
According to the Sound Matters site, one of the strengths of the foxL is its Twoofer. “Unlike other portable speaker systems, foxL is engineered around a pair of proprietary, highly sophisticated acoustic drivers, unique in their ability to reproduce both extreme high (tweeter) and low (woofer) frequencies from a single very small diameter (25mm) dome speaker, dubbed the"Twoofer"
Furthermore, “foxL's dual digitally powered Twoofers are assisted in their task of reproducing low frequencies by a miniaturized version of the high mass "moving-wall" passive bass radiators found in soundmatters' award-winning SUBstage home subwoofers.
To add the additional bass driver, without compromising stringent weight and space restrictions, soundmatters engineers developed an innovative solution, the BassBattery™. This patent-pending design was created by rubber-encasing foxL's built-in high capacity, lithium-ion battery, enabling it to provide the mass for, and doing double duty as, an acoustic suspension bass driver.”
Now, if you’re lost in the details, come back, because here’s the long-and-short of it. The foxL is by far, the best Bluetooth speaker money can buy. It works wonderfully well with Macs and the Blackberry Bold, and the music it produces is on par with much more expensive systems. So, if you’re looking for great sound that comes from a tiny package, then look no further than the foxL—because we truly have never heard/seen/experienced something as impressive as this when it comes to portable audio!
Albeit urban life is not as rough as ranch life, but with that said, the weather still gets pretty nasty at times. And with our economy in the toilet, the chances of sneaking away with a “sudden contagious cold” on the next frigid snowy day are somewhere between slim and none. So, in an attempt to help you brave the elements as you brave our economic downturn, here’s a look at our new favorite chino, made by our new favorite manufacturer, Mountain Khakis!
According to their site, “these soft-but-tough pants adapt to a variety of mountain scenes. They feature industrial strength construction with a clean, comfortable fit. The unique, specially woven fabric is iron-tough on the outside and brushed for a comfortable, soft feel against the skin. They [are the] perfect every day companion to your favorite fleece vest or mountain parka. Quality features include: YKK zipper, riveted metal button, triple stitching and bar tacks in stress areas. Constructed of 10.4 ounce, 100% cotton duck canvas.”
They go on to gloat about their cotton canvas, saying “durability in the mountains is essential and that’s why we developed our custom made 100% cotton duck canvas with thick ring spun yarn - making it one of the toughest fabrics available. At 10.4oz MK duck canvas is extremely abrasion resistant due to the double ply weave on both the warp and weft. This allows us to produce a lighter canvas without sacrificing durability. All of our fabric is pre-washed and brushed before cutting and sewing. These processes produce products with unparalleled broken in comfort.”
Now, we haven’t tried these pants out on the tundra, but we’ve definitely given them a few rough wears both in the city, and while cleaning up the country house. The pants truly are wonderful- they are stylish, comfortable, warm, and incredibly durable. So, before you rush into one of those ubiquitous over-priced chain stores, take a look at these wonders—we guarantee that after one wear, you’ll be conviced there’s nothing better than a good pair of MMountain Khakis!
With the holidays only days away, chances are that you’re totally panic-stricken. What do you get the guy who has it all? Does he need a new phone? Nope, he already got the Blackberry Bold. Does he need a new iPod? Nope, he already listens to his music on his Bold. Does he use his Blackberry with his stereo? Wait—you probably didn’t realize you could do that. And, chances are, that he doesn’t either. Which is why the Blackberry Music Gateway really is the perfect gift for that guy with it all!
The Music Gateway lets you wirelessly stream music from stored music on your Blackberry to a home sound system or personal stereo. It is incredibly small and sleek in design, being less than 2" across. To pair it, all you have to do is turn it on, and press the only button on the device—which makes it an absolute snap. As for output, you can use a 3.5mm stereo cable or an RCA auxiliary cable depending on your system. And, best of all, it comes with both cables so you don’t even have to think about it!
Now, if you’re going to make such an investment in streaming music, then you should also get a high-capacity memory card for your device. Our favorite card, after testing way too many cards, is the Sandisk 16GB microSDHC. This card not only features phenomenal speed and performance (speed class 2 for you technophiles), it also is extraordinarily stable! We found that this card beautifully managed our behemoth hodge-podge of files without batting an eye-lash. And in the event that we proved to be mightier than the card, we rested assured that it was protected by Sandisk’s 5-year limited warranty.
So, if you’re fed up with shopping for your favorite spoiled schmuck, then look no further than the Blackberry Music Gateway and Sandisk’s 16GB microSDHC; trust us, he’ll love it!
Are you or someone you love hairy? If so, then this review is perfect for you! A few years back we brought to you the original Norelco Bodygroom. We explained to you why it was so important to “manscape” your gardens, tame your “forests,” and train your gerbils. Well, many months later, and many many many nick-free days later, we find ourselves slightly embarrassed. You see, after umpteen (aka hundreds) of uses, we’ve worn out our beloved Bodygroom. So, like responsible internet shoppers, we went online and were about to order a replacement. And just as we were about to complete the order, we saw that Norelco released an update to our fair shaving friend. Obviously, we got ourselves the new one; partially so we could tell you about it, and partially because we needed something with a stronger motor!
The new and improved Norelco Bodygroom. has everything that you loved about the original model and more. For starters, it is still water resistant & maintenance free: Self-sharpening blades never need lubrication. And, it’s still relatively idiot proof provided you stop when something hurts or when skin is caught in a blade (ouch!). But after that, this is an all new trimming beast! This new unit features a new high-performance trimmer attachment with 5-lock in length settings, a fast extra-large(XL) trimming comb to quickly trim hair in large areas, a new extra-sensitive (XS) trimming comb to comfortably trim hair in the groin area and underarms, and it comes in a bad-ass shiny black finish.
So, if you’re trying to relive 6th grade, or maybe just help someone decrease their back-hair shedding, then this is the perfect inexpensive gift. Trust us, once you go smooth, you’ll never go back to senior year prom mode—at least until the motor dies out!
Given the current state of our economy, it is of paramount importance that you work your ass off in school and work. If you’re in school, you’ve got to bust your butt, so that you can be in the minority of folks graduating with a job. If you’re gainfully employed, you’ve got to work double-time to make sure that you can pay off your ever-growing credit card bill for all those holiday gifts. So, here’s a great gift idea for that loved one who needs to increase their productivity ASAP!
The Livescribe Pulse Smartpen is by far, one of the greatest inventions of 2008. When used in conjunction with the proprietary paper, you can turn the age-old paper-and-pen experience into a high-yield data archiving experience. Confused? Here’s a sample video on what it can do for a couple of pre-med wannabes:
To quote their site, “Livescribe’s intelligent writing system includes an innovative smartpen and dot paper that together bring traditional paper to life. By developing a paper-based platform, Livescribe will fundamentally change the way people capture, use and share information with pen and paper, making the possibilities of pen and paper endless. With Livescribe, people will no longer have to settle – they can have the best of both the paper and digital worlds.”
We found that the software was not only incredibly easy to use, but that the pen/paper was unbelievably accurate. We were able to navigate through our documents in ways never done before. When visiting clients we were able to share tidbits and nuances from previous meetings, and when back at the office, we were able to share notes and ideas in ways we had always wanted but were previously unable to do. The battery life was great, the pen writes like a normal pen, and the paper has a wonderful texture. Taken together, this is the perfect power combo for anyone who has hands and needs to write! So, what are you waiting for? Help your loved one succeed in school, keep his job, or all of the above—get a Livescribe Pulse Smartpen!
Although many of us lead high-power / high-stress lives, that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to relax. One of the most important steps in “initiating” relaxation is riding yourself of all reminders of the day’s horrid events—which usually entails changing your clothes. Now sure, you could put on a t-shirt and jeans, but, let’s be honest—can you really relax and do a few hours of pilates in that? Absolutely not! Which is why, we almost always strip away our work attire in lieu of some wonderful lululemon threads!
In looking for the perfect relaxation gift for that special someone, here’s our favorite outfit—it’s comprised of the Chief Jacket and the Rec Pant II.
To quote the Lululemon site, the Chief Jacket is a “sun up/sun down jacket for the personal trainer's everyday life.” Made from stretch French terry which keeps you warm on your way to and from the gym, studio, or stadium; stretch fabric allows the jacket to be used for any activity and stops annoying elbow bagging. And of course, there is an inside iPod cord exit and tunnel to help manage headphone cords.
Now to complement such a great jacket, we are head-over-heals for the Rec Pant II a “superior water-resistant/wind-resistant/breathable shell pant for outdoor athletics.” This pant’s inner side of fabric has excellent wicking capabilities, side zip vents for extra airflow, 4-way stretch fabric for movement, and most importantly, a chafe resistant inner leg panel.
So, if you’re looking to help your bonus-devoid loved one find a way to relax again, help them transition to solace with this wonderful outfit from Lululemon. We guarantee that they will absolutely love it!
When it comes to winter fashion we tend to look east, really east… to our friends across the pond. You see, with a dearth of sunny days in the highlands and lowlands of Great Britain, those crazy fish-and-chip eating folks have figured out how to make staying warm look pretty good. Furthermore, they have even figured out how to look good, stay warm, and still perform decently well at the daily urban tasks of hunting, fishing, and “touring.” So, in the spirit of finding your special someone (or yourself) what is sure to be this season’s hottest (and warmest) jacket, we give you the Barbour Wax Flyer Jacket.
This incredible piece of menswear truly represents the fusion of old-school Barbour with modern non-hunting, non-fishing, non-touring urban life. The jacket features Barbour’s classic Mediumweight 6oz Sylkoil wax and a 100% cotton Barbour Tartan lining with 30g polyester wadding. Complemented by a belted throat tab, epaulettes, and elasticated cuffs and hems, this jacket embodies modern style set upon a tradition of fine tailoring. Furthermore, the jacket is jazzed up with a storm flap, 2 external press stud-fastened handwarmer pockets, and a number of internal pockets.
Taken together, this is a phenomenal jacket! We’ve yet to go a day where we haven’t had a compliment. It is not only incredibly unique, it is 100% Barbour—which means it is durable, functional, and absolutely beautiful. So, if you’re looking to buy a jacket, and not sure what to look at next, we recommend that you end your search immediately and pick up one of these jackets before they’re all gone and it’s too late!
As you all know, we have a penchant for men’s bags. Which is why, when we had the opportunity to review the coveted Hlaska Evergreen, we were ecstatic! For those who don’t know, the Evergreen has been the buzz of every men’s site for the last few weeks. It has become incredibly popular not only because of its sheer beauty, wonderful design, phenomenal functionality; but because there is no other bag like it! Here’s a quick spot from the Hlaska blog about the construction of the Evergreen :
“For our Evergreen briefcase, we have artisans in Canada working diligently to hand-sew each briefcase perfectly. One of the first challenges our designers ran into was being able to emboss such a large area of leather with a single die similar to the one used for our wallets. The solution was to create 3 separate dies, one for each panel. With an eye- for detail, the factory workers carefully match our wood grain so that the three separately embossed panels on the front and back fit together seamlessly, giving it the look of a single piece of “wood”.
For such a luxurious piece our designers also wanted to make sure they got everything just right, from the top stitching to the lining to the embossing. The Evergreen briefcase went through 5 revisions to get to where it is today, each one improving the shape, feel, and quality of the bag, from the inside out. We spent just as much attention on the interior as we did on the exterior, ensuring it was beautiful as well as functional. For the lining our designers chose 100% cotton Kvadrat European fabric. The picture above shows the internal gussets being hand sewn, offering extra strength and durability at a key stress point.
For that extra special touch, we created a limited run of each color and individually serial numbered each briefcase for authenticity. These key elements may seem small on their own but each is as important as the next to guarantee that our Evergreen Briefcase is flawless in looks, function, and resilience.”
Taken together, we were absolutely impressed with this beautiful piece! We found it to be sturdy, functional, and beautiful. The bag is made not for you, but for future generations, as you are surely going to pass this down from one to another. If you’re looking to surprise that special someone with a truly special gift this holiday season, the Evergreen is your bag!
Being that today is Cyber Monday (the internet equivalent of Black Friday), we thought it was only fitting that we find you an unbelievable web-based holiday gift for today’s review. To be honest, we perused through tons of crap, searched way too many sites, and tormented ourselves over what to feature today. In the end, we decided to go simple yet classy. So, without further ado, we present to you, California Reds Wine of the Month Club.
When we first stumbled upon the California Reds website, we had one of those proverbial “a-ha” moments. Not because it was such a novel idea, but because we wondered why we didn’t review them earlier! If you think about it, this is really the perfect gift for almost anyone. If your friend is a fat slob that loves bacon and beer, fruit of the month is going to be wasted on them. If your friend is a super sophisticated socialite, jellybean of the month is going to be wasted on them as well. And, if your friend is a super spoiled brat that has everything, then chocolate of the month will probably already be making two deliveries to their apartment as it is. However, Wine of the Month is genius. You see, even in the offshot that someone has already signed them up for a similar gift, you can never have enough wine!
Now, the reason that this is our Cyber Monday feature is because they are phenomenally priced! Here are their 3 packages, which you can do for as little as 3 months or for as long as 12 months:
World Wide Reds $38.95 Per Month - our International wine of the month club is for the adventurer in all of us! Each month we'll deliver two different bottles of handcrafted, specialty wines from boutique wineries around the world. This club is a great choice when you want to experience wines from exotic locales across the globe.
Dynamic Duo $44.95 Per Month - our most popular club features a monthly delivery of two different bottles of California red wines from interesting, up-and-coming wineries - many of which have yet to be discovered by the national wine experts. If you like the idea of being the first to sample a new winery, this club is a great choice
Ultimate Reds $94.95 Per Month - our premium wine of the month club features three bottles every month of highly-rated, hard-to-find wines from boutique, family-owned wineries across the Napa Valley. This Ultimate Reds Wine Club is a wine gift guaranteed to satisfy even the most discriminating wine connoisseurs.
In summary, we honestly believe that California Reds Wine of the Month is the perfect gift for anyone and everyone! They offer amazing wine, superior service, and all at unbelievable value. So, what are you waiting for? Order that gift for that special someone before it’s too late!
With less than 24 hours until Thanksgiving, chances are that you’re panicked on what to bring to your potluck dinner. Sure, you could go to your local grocer and by a prepared dessert, but you know some other shmuck is likely to get one nicer than yours and show you up. You could easily go over to that expensive import-only market and get some exotic salad, but the likelihood of it being a hit, is somewhere between 0 and 50% (at best). So, what are you to do? Well, thankfully, we’ve done all the hard work and found the ideal edible delectable for tomorrow night’s feast. And, it all starts with a healthy serving of Baconnaise!
Now in case your brain is in a pre-Thanksgiving coma, we’ll give you a little insight into Baconnaise. It is bacon flavored mayonnaise! Genius, right? This stuff is unbelievable and perfect on nearly everything from french fries, to burgers, to tuna salad, to anything that could need a healthy bacon infusion. But in keeping with our promise for the perfect Thanksgiving dish, here’s our favorite recipe, courtesy of the Baconnaise website:
2 lbs small potatoes (preferably reds) 2 tablespoons dijon mustard 1 cup Baconnaise™ 3 stalks finely minced celery 2 tablespoons chopped parsley Salt and pepper to taste Cut the potatoes into half-inch pieces, keeping the skin on. Place potatoes in a pot of boiling, salted water and cook for approximately 15 minutes until they are tender, but still a little firm. Drain and place in cold water immediately. Pre-mix the Baconnaise™ and Dijon mustard, then add to potatoes along with minced celery, Dijon mustard and parsley until evenly coated. Add salt and pepper if necessary to taste. Sprinkle more parsley on the top for garnish.
By the way, in case there are a couple chosen folks at your feast (aka Jews), don’t worry, Baconnaise is actually Kosher!
“Yes, there are rabbis out there with enough chutzpah to certify things with bacon in the name as kosher. Fortunately, there is no such thing as eternal damnation in the Jewish faith. If you keep kosher, the good news is that all of J&D's products are Kof-K certified. Hickory, Peppered, Jalapeno, Maple, Applewood and Mesquite Bacon Salts are Kof-K Parve, while Original, Natural, and Cheddar Bacon Salts along with Regular and Lite Baconnaise are Kof-K Dairy.”
So, take the plunge, get a jar of Baconnaise ASAP, and jazz up that holiday meal by exciting everyone’s palates. We guarantee that you will leave that dinner the victor of this year’s pot-luck, and surely set the bar ever so high for next year’s rematch!
When it comes to protecting our beloved phone, Otterbox knows how to get it done! These outdoor enthusiasts over the years have figured out how to keep your phone from getting banged up, scratched up, soaked, and broken using some of the most ingenious technological engineering we’ve ever seen. Which is why when we got our Blackberry Bold (truly our new favorite phone), we went straight to their site to see what they were cooking up for us drop-prone Blackberry addicts. So without further ado, we introduce you to the newly released Impact Series!
“This thin, skin-like design offers your BlackBerry Bold protection against bump and shock. All buttons, ports and functions are accessible right through the case, and the inner corners are designed to dissipate impact AWAY from your device. A lso, the OtterBox for BlackBerry Bold Impact Series has an ergonomic design that your hands will love to be wrapped around!”
To say that we’re obsessed with this case is an understatement. This case has already protected our device from drops onto a moving treadmill, drops onto NYC concrete, and countless back-flips off a restaurant table. We honestly believe that this case is ideal for those who need to protect the phone while maintaining the Bold’s slim profile.
Now, we must also admit, that neither we nor Otterbox has forgotten iPhone either. This ridiculously secure case is also available for our old friend the iPhone 3G, and it provides your touch-screen device the same outrageous protection as the Bold. So, what are you waiting for? Before you know it, your phone will be dinged up, and you’ll be known as that guy with the banged up phone—no one wants to hang out with that guy, right!?!
Truth be told, we’re huge whisky fans. There’s something about the complexity, the way it develops in your glass, and the way it warms you up on these chilly nights. If we’re looking to just relax or have a wild night, there’s always a time/place for a dram or two. With that said, not all whiskies are made the same. Some are blends, some are single malts, and some are just brown watered down crud. Thankfully, this next whisky only fits one of those descriptors (single malt), and is an absolute treat to your finely tuned, discriminating palate—that whisky is Yamazaki .
“In 1923, Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Suntory and the father of Japanese whisky, built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in the Vale of Yamazaki. Using copper pot stills, the Yamazaki distillery was the first of its kind outside of Scotland. The distillery’s location on the outskirts of Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto offered pure waters, diversity of climate and high humidity - the ideal environment for the maturation of good whisky.”
Today, Yamazaki is not only the most popular single malt whisky in Japan, it is one of the most exclusive and highly desired whiskies worldwide. The highly acclaimed single malt 18-year old whisky offers connoisseurs an unbelievable array of aroma and flavors. At first whiff, we noted a rich toffee aroma beautifully intertwined with elegant coffee-like undertones. On our first sip we were taken back by the full-bodied flavor of spicy cherry-like and juniper tones. However, as we let this treasure mature in glass and added an ever-so-slight amount of artesian water, we were introduced to a wonderful cornucopia of sweet flavors like fuji apples and apricots while appreciating buttery aromas with elegant leather-like scents. Taken together, this is the epitome of luxury whisky. It is not meant for the occasional sipper—it is manufactured for the discriminating connoisseurs who likes his whiskies like wardrobe; a notch above the rest. So, if you’re stuck on what to get that special someone, or if you just want to impress your boss this holiday season, don’t look any further than the Yamazaki Single Malt 18 Year Old Whisky; we guarantee that you’ll be destined for a bonus, even in this horrendous economy!
When we first got wind of Vers, we were skeptical. Being that we’re total techno/audiophiles, we know that everyone and their hairy sister is in to making iPod docking speakers systems. And while the majority of them get the job done, few of them are really able to belt out the bass that we love and the treble that we desire. Being that Vers was marketing themselves as a notch above the rest, we decided to give them a shot and see what all the buzz was about. In short, we were amazed, and this is why….
For starters, Vers has gone about making the 1.5R the right way- from the acoustic perspective first. To quote their site, “Ask anyone in the world of speaker design and they will tell you the #1 objective in developing a good sound enclosure is ‘rigidity’ – assuring that the enclosure itself does not resonate under pressure from the speaker and either add to or subtract from the natural, intended sound of the speakers themselves. A good sound enclosure is one that delivers sound clean, without affecting it in any way.
The wall thicknesses of a typical plastic iPod sound system are about 2 mm, allowing the plastic to easily flex and affect the sound you ultimately hear. Some plastic system manufacturers compensate for this by artificially adjusting the bass and treble; most do nothing at all. The walls of a Vers cabinet are 9.5 mm thick E0 MDF - a rigid, environmentally friendly wood fiber material preferred by most high-end speaker manufacturers. A Vers cabinet is more than 4 times thicker than its plastic counterparts. A rigid, acoustically neutral cabinet means a more accurate, natural delivery of the intended sound, allowing the music to ‘transcend’ the sound system.”
In addition, the Vers 1.5R is truly designed to be the only thing on your shelf/desk/night-stand/cabinet. It is chock-full of serious features like an energy efficient class D amplifier, 15 watt full range speakers, rear port design for deep bass response, a switchable internal / external antenna, adjustable backlit LCD with large easy-to-read display, and 3.5mm jacks for in/out. In addition, the Vers 1.5, in keeping true to the company’s mission, is hand crafted-- available in Cherry, Natural Walnut, Dark Walnut, Bamboo and White Gloss finishes (all done by hand), taking over a week to build and making each one unique!
Lastly, we cannot emphasize enough that this unit is as aesthetically beautiful as it is acoustically balanced. We tested this unit against a number of our demo speaker units, and could not find a better unit for this size or price. In conclusion, if you’re looking to enjoy your iPod at work, home, or anywhere in-between, then this is the unit for you. The care that goes into the construction of this device is unlike any other we have seen, and the sound that it produces, is unlike any other we have heard. Take it from us, we know our stuff, and this is the unit to buy this year!
With Fall in full-effect, it’s time to button up, bundle up, and warm up. So, in hopes of helping you and your wardrobe get off to a good start, here’s one of our favorite picks for Fall 2008- the Harbor Cardigan, from fab design house, Modern Amusement.
This unbelievably comfortable, extremely stylish, incredibly diverse sweater is sure to become the staple of your 2008/2009 wardrobe. Made from a supple blend of lamswool and cashmere, this sweater is the modern version of the timeless cardigan. Featuring oversized buttons, a wide fold-down collar, and an intricately knitted pattern, this sweater typifies what we love. You can sport this sweater at work, at night, and everywhere in between, all while guaranteeing that you will be the focus of everyone’s fashion conversations. To say that we love this sweater is an understatement, which is why we recommend you buy it online here—because as we all know, winter is coming and it ain’t getting warmer for a while!
In keeping with the theme of awkward holiday party mishaps, chances are that you or someone you know is going to have to own-up for their indiscretions. Now, of course you could take the bull by the horns and approach the offended party at work, or you could try to smooth things over with a simple phone call. However, if you really complicated the situation (aka mucked it up big time), a phone call might even be too awkward in the non-medicated state. So, what do you do? Well, thankfully you don’t have to put too much thought into that question, because the genius folks at SlyDial did all the thinking for you!
Slydial is a phenomenal service that directly connects you to someone’s voicemail. No longer do you actually have to speak to the person—instead you can “slydial” them, leave a nice long apologetic message, and let that germinate until the next time you see them. “Powered by your voice, slydial voice messaging is a time saver, keeps you connected, and is a great alternative to text messaging or email. Let's face it, you can say a lot more in a 90 second voice message than you can in a 160 character text message or a short email.”
Confused on how it works? So are we—but here’s a video to give you the gist of when you should use it:
Now, when we were first introduced to slydial, you had to call 267-SLYDIAL and then manually dial in the recipient’s phone number. We used to think that this was a small price to pay for avoiding an awkward conversation—but it was an inconvenience. In an act of divine intervention (and genius computer programming), the folks of slydial have also just released 2 (soon to be 3) applications for your favorite smartphone. “With a touch of a button, you can easily voice message any contact with a U.S. mobile phone number directly from your phone's address book. Staying in touch has never been easier, whether you want to leave a quick voice message for friends and family or give the 411 to a business contact.”
So, as we always like to say, what are you waiting for? Go to slydial.com , signup for a MYslydial account, and download your software. We guarantee that this brilliant technology will save your touchas in the near future—so why not follow the Boy Scout motto, and be prepared?!?
With the holidays just around the corner, lots of great embarrassing footage is in the making. And instead of reminiscing about how that slutty executive vp tried to seduce that poor young analyst, or how your least favorite managing director kept sticking his fingers in the dip, or just how your coworker got way too drunk for everyone’s own good, you should be recording all these hilarities in high-quality HD. Up until now, the only way to record these priceless moments with an HD camera was to be extremely obtrusive and bring out an oversized camera—which pretty much negates your chances of actually recording these key scenes. But, as of today, that has all changed. Our favorite pocket-sized recording company, Flip Video, has just released the MinoHD —and we are absolutely obsessed with it!
Weighing in at a mere 3.3 ounces, it features 720p HD video recording! This mini-wonder can store up to 60 minutes of HD video on its 4GB internal memory, and using Flip’s patented flip-out USB arm, you can seamlessly drag-and-drop video right from the device to your computer and upload it directly to YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, AOL Video, or whatever else you want. Best of all, the software works beautifully on Macs and PCs!
Thanks to its simple design, it truly is idiot proof! The camera sports a great 1.5-inch anti-glare LCD display, a 2x digital zoom, and big buttons for recording, playback, fast-forward, rewind, pause and delete. After just a few minutes of tinkering, you will be a budding Academy Award winning director—so, what are you waiting for? Pick up the MinoHD before they’re out of stock, because this is sure to be one of this year’s hottest holiday gifts, and an absolute must for your next office party!
As the mercury drops and we start to don heavier and heavier outwear, it becomes ever more cumbersome to schlep stuff to and from work. In addition, as the bulk of our outerwear increase, it becomes increasingly difficult to wield a messenger bag with style and ease. So, what is a fashionable male to do? Find a new alternative, but of course! Behold, the Waxwear Computer File Case from the iconic manufacturer, Jack Spade.
We are absolutely obsessed with this case for a number of reasons. For starters, it is made from their timeless waxwear that not only can take a lickin’, but always looks great even after a swift kickin’. Their waxwear beautifully repels water and will surely keep your beloved documents/laptop safe and dry. Second, the bag is extremely functional with dual zipper closure, a hidden ticket pocket, an exterior zipper pocket, interior organizing pockets, and an interior padded computer sleeve. Third, and most importantly, it has extremely comfortable handles. This is ever so important, because as we all know, it can be damn near impossible to catch a cab during the height of holiday season, and you have to be prepared to walk to every meeting you have scheduled in the weeks ahead. So, taken together, this is the perfect bag for the guy who wants a classy yet casual yet functional yet comfortable brief to get him through the next few months ahead of us. Pretty hot, right?
In keeping with Wednesday’s “Ol’ School” theme, we’ve decided to take you back one more decade and introduce you to one of our most favorite pairs of kicks. Diadora, the legendary manufacturer of fine sporting shoes (and unbelievable soccer boots), has recently released their Heritage Line of shoes. The shoes are inspired by their wildly successful styles of the 1970’s and 1980’s, are truly are timeless classics. Not only do they look “totally rad” (1980’s reference), they are “oh so smooth” (1970’s reference). Our most favorite pair are the Seb Impact, a “cool and trendy heritage shoe based off of the tennis shoes worn by Bjorn Borg in the 1970's and 1980's.” We found the shoes to be extremely comfortable and perfectly balanced for the fashionable yet functional world that we all live in. So, if you’re looking to spice up your wardrobe with a timeless classic, then look no further than the Diadora Heritage Collection!
There’s something to be said for “kicking it old school style.” Now, sure, you could try to fit into your old high-school jeans and look like a blueberry muffin, or you could relive the yester-years in a much more benign and tasteful way. Freestyle, the uber-hot fav of us all products of the 80s, has gone back to creating our favorite styles, and reinvigorated the adored Shark line of watches. Not only does this timeless piece keep phenomenal time, it happens to feature a comfy polyurethane strap, 2 alarms, a stopwatch with split screen functions, a backlight display, and the ability to do things like tell the day, date, and time. While this extremely affordable piece of wrist real estate may not be able to magically take you back to your thinner / full-head-of-hair years, it surely is a step in the right direction. So, take a break from your current bling, embrace the recession, and buy a fun watch that’s sure to become your new favorite timekeeper!
Tomorrow is surely going to be a day for the history books. Not only is the coolest Presidential candidate likely to be elected, one of the most highly anticipated phones is going to be commercially available as well. So, taken together, tomorrow is a big f’ing day for us Americans! Now, we’re sure you can figure out whom we’re talking about with respect to the candidate, but do you know which phone we’re mentioning? Well, if you’re a tech-freak like us, this is a rhetorical question. However, if you’re like the 99% of other people out there, you probably have no clue. Which is why we feel it is our civic duty as proud Americans to post our amazingly in-depth review of this highly anticipated device, because we’re sure that you’re never going to think of your mobile phone the same after you read this review. So, without further ado, we bring to the Blackberry 9000, aka Blackberry Bold— the phone we fell in love with when we first read about it, and the phone we fell in love with all over again, when we started using it a few weeks back.
For starters, this ain’t your daddy’s Blackberry. In fact, this ain’t even anything close to yesterday’s Blackberry—this device is a whole new beast! With respect to size, we would place the Bold somewhere between the Curve (8300 series) and the business-oriented 8800 series. At first we found the size slightly intimidating being that we’re such avid iPhone and Curve users. However, after a few minutes of playing and a whole lot of emailing, we found the size to be perfect for the email addict or the Blackberry messenger obsessed masses. In fact, the keyboard, which is reminiscent of the 8800, offers phenomenal key-to-key spacing and great tactile feedback, making typing a breeze. Also, by eliminating one of the shift keys, RIM was able to gain valuable real estate on the device, and create an ergonomic keyboard, that graced by overly large (unsure why) ergonomic navigation keys as well.
When you actually clean the drool off the screen and power this thing up, you notice two things. One it is fast, and two, the screen is unbelievably not RIM. With respect to speed, RIM went all out and built this device around a 624MHz processor. Essentially, my freshman year computer didn’t have this much computing power. This doubling of the standard Blackberry processor affords the user not only an incredibly smooth interaction with the device, but also the ability to get shit done! It whizzes through emails, texts, applications, and seems to have forgotten how to freeze and ruin one’s running chain of dirty texts.
Now, while the speed of the device will impress you, you’re the lucky duck that gets to keep this in your pocket. What will impress all the folks around, is the Bold’s half-VGA screen. To say that the screen is anything but breath taking is an understatement. Colors absolutely jump off the screen providing you with the richest of colors, the brightest of brights, the darkest of darks, and the best overall screen quality since the iPhone came to town. In fact, because of its size and orientation, you actually have the ability to finally show people photos on your Blackberry! We hope the RIM will stop putting crap screens on their other devices and stick to this new way of viewing things, because this really just makes the Bold experience absolutely pitch-perfect!
Now, as you’re reading this review you’re probably starting to wonder about battery power. Hell, they’ve included a bad-boy processor and an even bad-ass’er screen! Well, thankfully RIM read your thoughts and included phenomenal power-managing software and complimented it with an untiring battery. In fact, we would argue that it was an absolute challenge to drain this battery even with a weekend full of Bold-related activities.
Being that we’re more than halfway through with this review, you’re probably itching to know about its connectivity. And we’ll be honest, we left this conversation to be after the mention of the battery power, because as opposed to other devices (cough iPhone, cough), we were actually able to use all of our available connectivities at all times and now worry about battery power issues. Yup, that’s right, we were able to leave the screen on full-brightness, and still connect to 3G, GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi.
In fact, we were shockingly surprised to find that our Bold had BETTER reception than our iPhone. We were almost consistently finding a one-two bar difference between the two devices. And when asking callers on the other end what they thought, they almost unanimously agreed that the Bold held a better connection.
By having both 3G and WiFi we can finally stream media to our Blackberry device, upload video content to our favorite naughty sites, download programs and use them within the same hour, and open attachments before a contract expired. The connectivity of the device really affords you the ability to leave your computer at home, and as Sarah Palin likes to say, “get er’ done.”
The Bold has other great features like a beautifully tweaked user-interface, an external microSD slot (finally!), 1 gig of on-board memory, a bizarre leatherette back, and the best speakerphone on the market.
While we don’t think this is “the” phone for everyone, we whole-heartedly believe that like Barrack, this is the one to beat. The Blackberry 9000 is a well-overdue upgrade to the RIM product line, and really is designed for folks who are as simple as Joe the Plumber, and as complex as a socialist. After having this device for a few weeks, we have to say that we honestly can’t wait until tomorrow—both so we can share in everyone’s joy as the good guy finally wins the election, and also so people will stop begging us to see our Bold!
As you already know, we're huge Glenrothes fans. We have yet to fine a scotch that can come close to their relentless pursuit to produce the perfect scotch. And, as Spungle continue to turn a profit, and we invest that profit in older and older vintages, we're learning that vintage scotch is a whole new level of scotch enjoyment. Which is why, when we got word of a new Glenrothes experience, we felt that we had to share it with you ASAP. So without further ado, we present to you the best use a spare $25,000!
The Ultimate Glenrothes Experience offers serious Scotch aficionados the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sample vintage Single Malts no longer available to the general public. Accessible only to those who truly savor the finest things in life, the tasting will be held in the beautifully appointed cellars of Berry Brothers & Rudd’s St. James Street location.
Ronnie Cox, recently-named Whiskey Ambassador for Scotland for 2008 and Master of the Keepers of the Quaich, will lead the tasting. The vintages will be paired with dishes prepared by the distinguished Berry Brothers & Rudd Head Chef, Stewart Turner, formerly of the Connaught and Brown’s Hotels as well as The Waterside Inn at Bray and Gravetye Manor in Sussex.
Mr. Cox has specially selected the vintages to be offered in the tasting. It is the singular opportunity to taste these unavailable vintages that is the allure of this special night -- nowhere else in the world can a Scotch lover indulge in the luxury of these rare bottles. These will include:
The Glenrothes 1966 Single Cask #1438 -- Appearance: Deep, dark red; Aroma: Full strength - Dried fruit, linseed oil, butter toffee; Palate: Sweet, strawberry, ripe oranges, vanilla; Finish: Medium length, sweet.
The Glenrothes 1979 Vintage (Bottled 1994): Appearance: Natural, solid gold; Aroma: Delicate peat, heavy fruit/plums. Some spiciness; Palate: A full flavor, silky-smooth, licorice with lots of spiciness and touches of dried fruit and peat; Finish: Spicy, smooth, becoming dry.
The Glenrothes 1985 Vintage (Bottled 1997): Appearance: Natural, golden color, clear and bright; Aroma: Aromatic with a hint of spiciness; Palate: Full bodied, sweet and spicy; Finish: Medium sweet, long and well-balanced.
With dinner, guests will also enjoy some exceptional wines from the Berry family reserves held under lock and key in their private cellars. This is of course a 'by invitation only' opportunity as the family rarely opens their private cellars to outsiders. Simon Berry, the company’s current chairman, will choose the wine depending on what he deems right and ready at the time, and to match the food being prepared.
The Ultimate Glenrothes Experience is limited to 10 individuals. Inclusive cost is $25,000! Booking can require as much as a year’s notice, depending on Mr. Cox’s schedule-- so get on it! Connoisseurs interested in booking this one-of-a-kind experience should contact Bridget DiMartino at 212-477-8090 or e-mail her at bridget (at) tbtpr.com.
When the iPhone first emerged, it was amazing. Its shear presence had the ability to silence a crowded restaurant. Everyone wanted to see it, touch it, and whisk his fingers across it. And now, 6 million + iPhones later, we see everyone from hunched-over arthritic grandmas to teeny-boppers blabbing away on this wonder device. So, in an attempt to reclaim our lost coolness factor, we investigated what we could do to “re-cool” our iPhones, and thankfully stumbled upon ColorWare!
“ColorWare Inc., established in 2000, is an industry leader in altering the color of existing products. ColorWare began with the concept of transforming the ubiquitous beige computer into a custom-colored work of art. The idea began with an attempt to color a late-model cell phone in 1999. After a year of testing and experimenting, the ColorWare high-gloss, scratch-resistant polymer-based coating was perfected.” And now, they are helping us turn our standard devices into pocket-sized works of individualized art!
The process is extremely simple—you go onto their site, let your imagination run wild and funk-up your device, and then you send it to them. Within a short time you get a nice little package from the folks at ColorWare, and before you know it, you’re the talk of the town! We were not only impressed with their easy-to-use website, and quick turn-around, but of the quality of the polymer. We feel that our iPhone is not only 100% cooler, but also well protected. All in all, we’re beyond impressed, and will surely send them anything and everything that they can color!
(P.S. rumor has it that they’re gearing up to do Blackberry Bolds as soon as AT&T is ready to release them!)
Even though the market is tanking, it doesn’t mean you can’t reward yourself for surviving a rough few weeks. So, in hopes of brightening up your day (and your wrist), we went shopping for a new piece of “casual bling,” and just happened stumble upon an absolutely beautiful piece from the Porsche Design P’3450 series of bracelets. The TecFlex Bracelet is everything that we want in a casual piece of jewelry. It is light, mannish, durable, and unique. The bracelet is constructed from high-quality TecFlex material, a stainless steel weave that is commonly used in cycling, and adorned with a simple magnetic clasp made of matte polished stainless steel. We found it to be extremely comfortable and a great conversation piece. And, given this economy, wouldn’t you rather talk about a bracelet than how much money you used to have?
As you all know, we take great pride in our originality and unprecedented access to some of the most desirable personal possessions. With that said, we occasionally feel the need to “re-post” a review because of an update to a fabulous product. Today is one of those examples. Back in Spring 2008 we introduced to you what we consider to be the greatest iPhone ear-phones currently available. And now, more than 5 months later, we still feel that they are the best that money can buy. However, V-Moda, after doing considerable testing and market research, has improved these wondrous ear-phones by improving the connector. On the newest revision, it features a “45-degree flexible design that allows an optimal range of motion while maintaining a sleek, sturdy metallic core fused to a 24-carat gold-plated plug.” In other words, the plug is now in the same plane as the tension that you may apply to it during your daily functioning. And while this may not seem like a big deal, this little adaptation not only protects your precious iPhone ear-phone connector, but also diminishes the iPhone’s profile in your pocket. So, here’s the link to our May 2008 review, and here’s the link to buy them. Our hat goes off to this amazing manufacturer that was responsive enough to respond to their consumer’s requests and make the product the way the consumer wants it!
When someone’s in a grumpy mood, quite often some jerk asks him, “What, did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?” This question typically leads to a look of distaste by the grumpy person, and most likely subtle retaliation when the inquirer least expects it. And while many would argue that it’s a “harmless,” “timeless” question, we would disagree. You see, with the advent of modern mattress construction, there usually is no “wrong side.” So, in fact, the question doesn’t even make sense. A better question would probably be, “What, did you not drink a Nespresso this morning?”
You see, Nespresso is how we start our day, every day. We’re infatuated with the entire Nespresso experience. The sleek palm-sized pod seamlessly inserts into our beautifully constructed machine, the cold steel handle makes a perfectly tuned “click” to let us know that the chamber is loaded, and the aroma quickly fills the room as the first of many cups are brewed. So, being that we’re so head-over-heels for Nespresso, and that the folks at Nespresso know about our obsession, we get the unqiue opportunity to sample their special limited edition blends before the rest of you. What that lets us do is not only flaunt our Nespresso connection, but also review these blends in time for when they are about to be commercially delivered. And so, without further ado, we introduce you to this Fall’s amazing creation, Jinogalpa.
The blend is named after the two main regions in the mountains of Nicaragua, Matagalpa and Jinotega. The beans are picked by hand, fully washed at wet mills, and then carefully sun-dried to ensure the proper development and preservation of this unique flavor. The process is also augmented by split-roasting, where coffee from similar regions are actually roasted separately and introduced to the hoppers prior to the processing. Taken together, you cannot find a blend like this anywhere in the world, and only Nespresso holds the key to unlocking the wonder of this aromatic and flavorful masterpiece.
As for the flavor, it’s an unbelievable masterpiece of intertwined aromas of sandalwood, raw sugar cane, and herbal undertones, making it a balanced coffee of moderate intensity that is well suited for any and every discerning palette. So, after all this fancy writing, what more do you need to know? Get this blend before it goes down in the history books as the be-all / end-all of luxury coffee!
Every so often we see a piece of clothing and say, “just gotta have it.” This is what happened when we saw this awesome sweater from Barbour when we were fingering through their Fall 2008 catalog earlier this summer. However, given that it was over 90 degrees outside, we weren’t exactly itching to wear this sweater, just keep it in our armament of fall review products. So, now that the mercury has started to dip, out comes the review!
We all recognize Barbour as THE classic British brand. Their style hasn’t changed since their beginnings, and they have always been dedicated to true sporting fashion. With that said, they have also come out with some pretty amazing styles/designs over the years, and this sweater surely takes the cake! The Chunky Button sweater is beautifully made from pristine 100% lambswool 2/15's and knitted in 5 gauge. This means that not only is it unbelievably soft, but that it also just happens to be pretty damn warm, too! (starting to see why we didn’t review this over the summer?) In addition to being available in two timeless colors (beige and dark brown), it also features “chunky” leather buttons and a contrast colour under placket. Essentially, this is a classic sweater with some serious fashion, that is versatile enough for a day in the office, a night on the town, or an afternoon at the club (country, gentleman’s, Costco, etc…). In summary, we’re head over heels for this wonderful sweater from one of our favorite timeless haberdasheries. Don’t you think you and your closet deserve this timeless sweater?
When you’ve been doing this for as long as we have (over 300+ reviews), you’re really not surprised by anything. And, when are you surprised, it usually means that there’s something worth investigating. This is the way we felt when the Strida bike showed up at our NYC office.
On the Strida website, under their FAQ, they answer what makes the Strida so unique, “Strida is the only folding bike that is greaseless, corrosion resistant, and virtually maintenance free. It's also the world's lightest folding production bike and can easily be rolled when folded.” While we would agree that all of the above is absolutely true, we’d also like to remind you that it’s the weirdest f’ing design we’ve ever seen!
But, with that said, after a 5-second unfolding, a few quick turns of the pedal, we soon realized that the design is really the strength of the bicycle. By having a narrow wheel base with what initially appears to be an awkwardly high center of gravity, you actually have phenomenal maneuverability. We found that it was a whiz to weave through Columbus Circle at rush hour—without hitting a person or a cab door. And, when we survived the gauntlet of people and actually made it to the wide-open horse-poop laden paths of Central Park, we found that we could actually get this little bike going at a good clip. Sure, it’s not designed for a century ride, but it’s surely more than capable of helping you get to/from work, and burn off those extra hamburgers you ate on Labor Day.
What we actually love the most about this bike is that it’s perfect for city life. The bike can be easily folded/unfolded in a matter of seconds, and by having free moving wheels, can be taken easily into a store, subway, or library (just kidding about the library). The Strida is really designed for the city person who’s tired of doing that old thing called walking, or that even older thing of sitting (cab/bus/subway) who wants to infuse some fun into his/her daily activities.
In summary, we look different, and we looked even more different on the Strida bike. But, if looking different is all it takes to have such a wonderful riding experience, then we welcome the gawks of wonder and amazement—this really is an amazing bike!
When it comes to fitness watches, there’s really only one manufacturer worth mentioning, Suunto!
Since Spungle’s inception, we’ve been huge fan-boys of Suunto watches. We love the way that Suunto is able to infuse phenomenal technology into an attractive watch. And, when used together with one of their ingenious PODs, you literally have an exercise laboratory on your wrist that’s custom designed for your activity of choice. So, when the Suunto t6c was released earlier this year, you can imagine that we were jumping (and running/biking) for joy!
We’ll start by saying that our 2006 review of this watch’s predecsor, the Suunto t6, is our most popular review of all time. We suspect that this review’s popularity is due to the fact that everyone is looking for the fitness watch that has it all, and the t6 does! Well, if you can believe it or not, the t6C takes everything that makes the t6 the proverbial “dream watch” and brings it to a whole new level!
For starters, Suunto has upgraded the user-interface. By allowing you to control the content of the upper and lower information bars, you can now have the parameters that you want/need where you want them- prominently displayed. Not so into having the your splits showing when you’re biking on flat ground? Not a problem, you can easily change it to be a timer, or distance traveled. Get the gist? In addition to giving the user more control, they also have made the user-controls much more logical. You no longer have to use the lap/light buttons to scroll up and down- now the mode button takes you through the three key menus. In addition, they also removed the step of having to “connect” to the heart rate monitor—by entering the training menus; it automatically looks for the monitor and pairs it beautifully. In fact, we actually found that the heart rate monitor was not only more effective/accurate than the t6, but that it was more comfortable, too!
Now, being that we’re obsessed with aesthetics, we also have to admit that Suunto hit it out of the park with this color scheme. Sure, we love black, since it goes with everything. But, when you’re sporting a sporting watch, it’s kind of fun to jazz it up with color. So, that’s exactly what Suunto did by throwing in red accents and cleaning up the face and bezel. Taken together, they took a bad-ass watch and made it look even badder-asser!
In summary, if you’re a serious sportsman looking for the fitness watch that can do everything, then look no further than the Suunto t6c. This watch offers you comprehensive physiological analyses on your computer, real-time training effect and EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption), an altimeter for hill and altitude performance, speeed, distance, and cycling cadence with optional PODs, a customizable screen layout for individual information needs, and a hot new design. What more do we have to say to convince you that this IS the watch that will get you into shape? Exactly, so just buy it!
Being that we spend the majority of our time on the road, we’re always schlepping our MacBookPros and MacBookAirs everywhere we go. And while we’re huge Apple fan-boys, we’re not the biggest fans of the built-in speakers. Sure, they do the job and let you “pull off” a multimedia presentation with a client, but when it comes to having real sound, they leave a lot to be desired. For that reason, in addition to schlepping computers and chargers and projectors and plugs, we’ve also been schlepping speakers, too! For that reason, we were absolutely ecstatic when we heard that LaCie, our trusted back-up memory manufacturer, was about to release USB bus-powered speakers that not only sounded good but looked good, too. So, without further ado, we bring to you the LaCie USB Speakers!
For starters, these pint-sized wonders packs a huge punch! With a frequency response of 90Hz-20kHz, they deliver crisp, clear, vibrant sound that is perfect for a gripping presentation or a night in your hotel room watching re-runs of Entourage. Designed exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, “their unique design combines easy usability and chic, modern style. The built-in cables discreetly and conveniently tuck under the speakers for a neat, clean look. The widely used USB interface provides an excellent digital audio stream and bus-power so there's no need for an AC adapter or batteries.” Now, if you chose to use these little giants with your favorite MP3 player, then you’ll have to pick up the additional AC adapter. But, for speakers that are well under $100, the extra adapter is a drop in the bucket!
In summary, since we started using the LaCie USB Speakers, we haven’t looked back! They are loud, responsive, and rich- everything that we need to convince a client and all that we want from our computer speakers. So, no matter if you’re looking to hear your presentations better, listen to your favorite tunes, or have a better porn/movie experience, don’t look past the LaCie USB Speakers, because we’re sure that they’re going to be sold out in no time—these things are amazing!
When we started Spungle 300+ reviews ago, we committed ourselves to writing our own reviews. Which means, that we not only had to go find the products, try the products, and systematically review the products, but also write a damn article about the product. Now, don’t get us wrong, we love what we do. And truth be told, we write our own reviews because A) we like how we write, B) we don’t like how most others write and, C) we’re good at what we do. But, with this next manufacturer, we have to admit, we are absolutely obsessed with not only their phenomenal products, but also with their wonderful writing. So, in a credit to them, we will openly admit that we whole-heartedly support Bonobos, love their product, and feel that they are the PERFECT PANT for 2008. And with that resounding endorsement, we will now give you our three favorite picks and their wonderfully written Bonobos website write-ups:
Shoguns : “When we decided to kill jeans, we developed a detailed plan of attack: take the only redeeming quality of denim, that indigo hue, and imbue it upon our favorite mid-weight stretch corduroy. Then line it with a Japanese themed print reminiscent of the great warlords, the Shoguns. Nearly every day a new premium jeans company forms to fiddle with a new variation of pocket stitching and play rivet-and-wash tonsil-hockey. Each day, a new victim is born. It’s bonobos versus blue jeans, and we’ve launched a full frontal attack. Led by the Shoguns.”
Snapdragons: “Everyone should own a pair of snapdragons. These beige colored stretch wool trousers carry a subtle herringbone pattern. Sophisticated, comfortable, versatile... the Snapdragons can be worn to the office every day. We have made them a bit more exciting than your average dress trouser by running the entire internal operation (waist band, pocketing, and lining to the knee) with 100% silk. We always wondered why high end men's pant's are finished with cotton and polyester inside, but rather than talk about it we just stepped up and brought you something much better: a ridiculously cool and smooth fabric that better connotes the level of luxury, in a funky floral pattern that will dazzle those lucky enough to get close enough. We work tirelessly to bring you better trousers, and this is our latest innovation.”
Spiderfighters: “Long before [the Bonobos] website was launched, we made a commitment to our Series A investors, and to ourselves, that all lightweight navy blue corduroy trousers we produced would celebrate the absurdly awesome world of early ‘80s video game culture. It was only natural, therefore, that we name our latest and greatest in this line after one of the best Atari games of all time, Spider Fighter. “The object of the game is to protect your fruit orchard from insect fruit thieves, scoring points by exterminating the attackers” reads the instruction manual. We’re sorry, but who needs Grand Theft Auto IV when you can spend your leisure time protecting your electronic fruit orchard? And who knew that spider and fighter would sound so sweet when placed next to each other? Well if there is one thing we know that you know, it’s that the Spider Fighters are going to sell as quickly as their predecessors, the Last Starfighters. It’s just an awesome pair of pants; combining this rich navy hue with the 26-wale ultra soft luxury of our flagship lightweight corduroy just makes perfect sense. Step aside Midnight Blues, there’s a new bestseller in town.”
Between our country’s financial disaster, the recent dearth of sunny weather, and yet another chart-topping song by Britney Spears, we realize that life sucks right about now. Which is why we went hunting for the perfect moment of solace to help you find your Zen during the day and escape from all your woes. Our perfect-pick comes from the Fujian Province of China and is called Teaposy.
We first fell in love with these blooming wonders while at a high-end fundraiser a few months back. We were simply blown away by how a simple pot of tea could become a centerpiece for a table. And when we actually tasted the tea, we were equally stunned- the tea was perfectly balanced in both strength and flavor. Taken together, it was the perfect tea experience!
Since then, we have experimented with all 6 of their wonderful flavors and are beyond impressed! Their gift sets beautifully complement their teas’ outstanding designs and flavors, and we’re sure that you too will be an instant addict after your first Teaposy experience! In conclusion, we can’t change the financial markets or stop Britney from singing, but we can tell you how to take an amazing reprieve; and we think it is done best with a pot of the wonderful Teaposy!
With summer now well behind us, we’ve come to the realization that we’ll spending way too many hours behind our desk. And while we don’t mind the little clock on our computer that reminds us how much longer till quitting time, we’ve found that it’s really much nicer to have a clock on one’s desk. So, we went hunting for our favorite desktop clock, and fell in love with the Globe design by famed watchmaker, Modaine.
This beautifully crafted piece of art features a silicon outside making it perfect for your favorite glass desk, a sharp contrasting white dial that makes it easy to view from a distance, and the signature Mondaine Swiss Railway styling that we’ve come to love! In addition, it goes without saying, but being from the impeccable watchmaker Mondaine, it has a phenomenal quartz movement that will ensure that you are never late to a meeting, and never at work a minute later than you have to be. In conclusion, if you have to be at work, and you have to watch the clock, you might as well watch a beautiful one, and there really is no better desk clock than this timeless piece from our favorite time-tested manufacturer, Mondaine!
In keeping with our health-kick (bad joke) theme, we couldn’t resist sharing with you one of our favorite sneakers of the season. And to be honest, the New Balance 1350is unlike any sneaker we’ve tested before! For starters, at only 400grams (essentially 400 paper clips), this shoe is simply raw power! NB was able to make it so light by incorporating their award winning Seamless Phantom Liner; the liner reduces the weight but also makes the shoe much more comfortable. In addition, the features include New Balance’s patented Memory Foam lining; it not only molds around the ankle for support, but also provides a superior fit. To ensure that this shoe can handle whatever your little heart desires, they have incorporated both N-Durance (a rubber compound for maximum outsole durability) and Abzorb® EX (to provide a dynamic cushioned training experience). Taken together, this shoe has officially set the bar at a nearly unattainable goal for other manufacturers. And after sporting these kicks for a summer, we’re pleased to see that New Balance incorporated 360 degree reflective material—because once you put these bad-boys on, you’re surely not going to want to take them off!
While it’s easy to get excited about a new phone, camera, or media player, it’s a little challenging to get excited about a new memory card. Maybe it’s because cards don’t have on/off switches, fancy start-up screens, or “wow-factor” when out at a bar. However, without a memory card your favorite piece of electronic equipment is essentially useless, and with the wrong memory card in place, you might as well just scrap that device and spend the night at home. So, in hopes of getting you as excited about portable memory as we are, here’s our take on the most excited product in the SD field since SDHC arrived—the SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC™ High Performance Card.
SanDisk’s Extreme III is a true behemoth featuring 30MB/sec read/write (200X), 4GB, 8GB 16GB varieties, and optimization for DSLR cameras such as Nikon Canon, Panasonic, Leica and others. And, if you’re still not convinced that you need this card—and we really do believe that you need this card, you can read more about this postage-stamp sized on the SanDisk site, in an entry entitled, “http://www.sandisk.com/Retail/Default.aspx?CatID=1687.”
In summary, your newest, flashiest, hottest piece of electronic equipment is only as good as the card you put in it. And if you choose to put in the SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC™ High Performance Card, we absolutely guarantee that you’ll squeeze every single bit of electronic goodness out of your prized new possession.
When it comes to fitness footwear, there’s really no one that can compare to MBT!As you may or may not have noticed, MBT footwear is taking New York by storm. We see folks wearing them on their way to work, at work, on their weekends off, and literally everywhere in between. So, as you can imagine, when we were given the chance to work with MBT,we jumped at the opportunity!
According to their website, “MBT, Masai Barefoot Technology, was invented by Swiss engineer, Karl Müller. During a visit to Korea he made the startling discovery that walking barefoot over paddy fields alleviated his back pain. Back in Switzerland, Müller began to develop a footwear technology that would make the natural instability of soft ground such as Korean paddy fields or the East African savannah accessible also to those who have to walk on hard surfaces. In 1996, after years spent on research and development, Masai Barefoot Technology was mature enough to be launched on the market. MBTs are now available in over twenty countries, and approximately one million pairs of this revolutionary footwear technology are sold every year.”
We found after wearing MBTs for just one week, that we noticed an absolute difference in our posture and “visceral sensations.” We were “sorta” sore in places we didn’t expect to be sore (ie core muscle group), and felt that we were most comfortable when engaged in a proper-posture. In addition, we noticed with prolonged wear, that the “daily aches and pains” that we had grown accustomed to over the years, were actually resolving. While we don’t tout these shoes as the panacea to muscle pain, we do definitely believe that they are a step in the right direction.
And as if you didn’t already yearn for a pair of MBTs (for even just the height advantage), MBT has just launched an aggressive marketing campaign that is doing phenomenally well. This month-long campaign entitled “30 Reasons to Walk” is getting people out of their seats and onto their feet! And best of all, you have tons of chances to win free MBTs!
You can go to MBT30Reasons.com, A site created specifically for the “30 Reasons to Walk” campaign. Here you’ll find daily drawing to win MBTs, health tips from the MBT Pros, user-generated content community, music downloads, polls and “Ask Sheri” – a blog from MBT CEO Sheri Poe, among other regularly updated content.
In addition, they have partnered with MapMyWalk.com to challenge consumers to walk 30 times in 30 days. Walkers who complete the challenge will be eligible to win a variety of prizes, including MBTs.
If you need a little acoustic motivation, you can go to eMusic.com to vote for their favorite walking songs (via MBT30Reasons.com) and download the 30 best songs for free!
And our favorite part of this campaign is that, MBT is hosting scavenger hunts on September 27th in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago and Seattle in partnership with Watson Adventures. Of course, participants will be able to test-walk MBTs and compete for prizes, including MBTs.
So, taken together, what are you waiting for? September is your month to test our MBTs, win MBTs, and buy MBTs. Log on to : www.MBT30Reasons.com, lace up your shoes, and get on the road to fitness- we know you’ll love ‘em!
While it’s extremely rare for us to do a double-header review, we think that this morning’s review deserves to be coupled with this afternoon’s. You see, although we love the LIFESAVER water bottle, you’re probably saying to yourself, “Where would I keep in on a hike?” Hence, we’re bringing to you our favorite day-pack, which is perfect for those crazy hikes over technically challenging terrain, where you can’t afford to pack your water, and you’re going to need to get it as you go! So, without further ado, here’s the Mountain Hardwear Riff!
This little wonder, made from Mountain Hardwear’s award winning super-light, super-strong industrial parachute cloth, is by far on the greatest packs we’ve ever tested! It features an EVA padded back panel, a perfectly designed center zip main compartment that can accommodate your LIFESAVER bottle in addition to a whole slew of gear, side compression straps to stabilize your goddies, large stretch mesh side pockets that are ideal for trail snacks, and a duraguard daisy chain for extra gear.
Taken together, this pack perfectly complements the LIFESAVER bottle, making for a safe (well hydrated) day out in the great blue yonder (aka woods)!
Although the mercury is slowly falling, it doesn’t mean that we’ve seen the last of outdoor sports. In fact, we would argue that late summer / early fall is the ideal time for camping and hiking. The days are cooler allowing for longer/harder hikes, the nights are cooler, allowing for big roaring camp fires, and the waters are still warming, making for the perfect excuse for the spontaneous skinny dip. However, as we all know, with warm water, comes lots of concerns about water cleanliness. One sip of dirty agua, and you could find yourself doing what bears do in the woods… if you know what we mean! So, in an attempt to save your derriere, we found you the ideal product for you next hike—the LIFESAVER water bottle!
According to their website, “LIFESAVER bottle is the world’s first all in one ultra filtration water bottle. It will remove bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological waterborne pathogens without using chemicals like iodine or chlorine which leave a distinctive foul taste. LIFESAVER bottle produces filtered sterile drinking water quickly and easily. It incorporates LIFESAVER systems’ unique FAILSAFE technology (another world first) which shuts off the bottle’s cartridge upon expiry, preventing contaminated water from being drunk. With LIFESAVER bottle there is no need for tablets, boiling, chemicals, tubes, shaking, scrubbing, waiting or effort. LIFESAVER bottle produces clean, sterile drinking water with no foul taste - fast!”
We found that the bottle was extremely easy to use, quick to clean, and most importantly, compact! There’s no wasted space with this ingenious design! The power behind this wonder-bottle is that it is idiot proof! We felt that there was no way to not guarantee safe water, no matter where we went, what time of the day/night, and what conditions we were in. According to their website, there are 10 keys to this bottle’s unbelievable success:
1) Chew-proof teat LIFESAVER bottle is fitted with a chew-proof non-tasting replaceable teat. Although it is chew-proof it will after time begin to wear. Unlike many other systems LIFESAVER bottle has been designed so that its teat can easily be changed.
2) Activated carbon filter LIFESAVER bottle also comes with an activated carbon filter. This is made of high specification activated carbon block which reduces a broad spectrum of chemical residues including pesticides, endocrine disrupting compounds, medical residues and heavy metals such as lead and copper. It also eliminates bad tastes and odours from contaminates such as chlorine and sulphur. It is designed to last approximately 250 Litres.
3) LIFESAVER cartridges LIFESAVER bottle is fitted with either a 4000UF or 6000UF replaceable cartridge. The 4000UF has a service rating of up to 4000 litres of water and the 6000UF up to 6000 litres. The cartridge will remove bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, fungi and all other microbiological water-borne pathogens from your water (see performance data).
4) FAILSAFE technology As the cartridge approaches the end of its life the bottle requires a greater number of pumps to induce water to flow. When the bottle requires a significant number of pumps to induce water to flow this indicates that it is nearing the end of its life. When no more water can be induced to flow despite continuous pumping, the cartridge has expired and it is time to replace it.
5) No chemicals Users of iodine and other foul-tasting chemical sanitizers will appreciate that LIFESAVER bottle does NOT use any chemicals. It simply filters out all water-borne pathogens creating safe sterile drinking water - fast.
6) Over-pressurisation LIFESAVER bottle is designed not to over-pressurise. Over-pumping LIFESAVER bottle will cause the flip lid to bulge. If pumping continues, then the teat will open and release the water - this is a safety feature. Wound jetwash - Due to its unique pneumatic action, LIFESAVER bottle can be used to direct a pressurised jet of sanitized water directly onto a wound, jetting away debris and other contaminants. LIFESAVER bottle allows for levels of wound irrigation never before possible in the field.
7) Any position operation LIFESAVER bottle has been designed to work at any angle and in any axis. This means that in effect it will work in any position. Not only are you able to drink from it at any angle, but fill mugs, water bottles, pans and other water storage vessels.
8) Filtration on demand Filters water on demand rather than on collection, resulting in rapid scavenging of water in the field. With LIFESAVER bottle there is no time wasted filtering water at the point of collection or waiting for chemicals to work. Simply ‘Scoop and Go’. Just give it a few pumps and that’s it, as soon as you open the teat clean drinking water begins to flow.
9) Pre-filter disc / scavenging sponge LIFESAVER bottle is supplied with a pre-filter disc. This protects the membranes from objects such as gravel, sand, sticks and mud, prolonging the life of the LIFESAVER cartridge. Your pre-filter disc may also be used as a sponge. Use it to soak up water from those hard to reach areas like cracks in rocks or shallow puddles.
10)Instructicons™ LIFESAVER systems have developed instructicons™. These unique icons have been designed to be universally understood. Instructicons use no words or numbers, just simple, easy to understand icons.
And if you’re still not convinced, here’s a brief video showing you just how easy the LIFESAVER water bottle! truly is!
Although many think we’re luxury-obsessed snobs, we actually can appreciate a great digital watch. In fact, we learned after a quick survey in the office, that we all sported Casio G-Shock watches at various points in our lives, which is what makes today’s review so special. The Casio GW5525A is the newest edition to the ever-popular line of Casio G-Shock watches. Given that the G-Shock is 25 years old this year, they have introduced this watch as the flag ship of the collection, featuring styling that is “reminiscent of its ancestor in form and color.” In a nutshell it’s a bad-ass 2008 watch that reminds us of its rich heritage.
For starters, the G-Shock 25th Anniversary Dawn Black Collection is a limited edition, so before you make it through this entire review, you should add one to your shopping cart wherever you can find one. This watch features a multi-band atomic timekeeper (US, UK, Germany, Japan-- reeceiving time calibration radio signals automatically 6 times per day which keeps the displayed time accurate) as well as the ability to recharge itself via solar power.
Furthermore, as with all G-Shocks, it is shock resistant, water resistant, has innumerable timing features (subtle joke if you get it), 29 world time zones, a day-light saving feature, and a slew of alarms. Taken together, this is truly the ideal watch for the guy who’s looking to rock the throw-back style while globetrotting the world (US, UK, Germany, and Japan), or for the everyday schmo who wants to relive his childhood with a healthy infusion of 2008 technology. Come on, you have to agree that the inner boy in you really wants this watch!?!
When looking back at this summer’s digital recordings (photos and videos), we have to admit that the best decision we made was to buy a bunch of Flip Video Minos. If you’re not aware, this is a pocket-sized fully functioning camcorder that rivals the video feature on many of your favorite point and shoot digital cameras. You see, our goal was to document as much as we could for our clients, and while it’s convenient to shoot directly to the SD card in a digital camera, we found that few of them are as simple to use, and even fewer produce a respectable result. So, as you can imagine, when we got to play with the Mino, we were absolutely blown away.
The Mino is the third installment in the Flip Video line of camcorders, and in our humble opinion, is their best product to date. This handheld-wonder features an extremely bright 1.5 inch color LCD screen, 2 GB of on-board flash memory (essentially an hour’s worth of filming), an internal rechargeable battery, a patented flip-out USB hub for easy syncing and charging, and built-in software for easy uploading and sharing. Taken together, this sub-$200 camera rivals many of the big-boy camcorders in ease of use, reproducibility, and overall user interface.
So, while summer is over, that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. In fact, we think that means you have to party even harder to fight the impending cold weather. However, no one will truly believe that you’re a hard-core party animal unless you document it. And, after spending a summer with Minos in our pockets, we can’t think of a better way to document your oodles of fun! Happy shooting!
When it comes to late summer fashion there really is only one manufacturer you should consider, Modern Amusement. Given that they are based in Los Angeles, which basically has three seasons (early summer, summer, late summer), they are absolute pros at making you look good as the temperature waxes and wanes. Our favorite piece from this summer’s collection is the Riva Reversible V Neck.
We’re obsessed with this article of clothing because of its incredible diversity. When worn with the solid side out, it can be fashioned to go with anything from a pair of jeans, to shorts, to slacks—and you’re covered from everywhere from the office, to the country club, and all places in between. When worn with the striped side out, you’ve just included your favorite hot-spot in the cruise from work to pleasure. Taken as a whole, it is one of those incredible pieces of clothing that compliments everything in your wardrobe and can be worn in so many ways. So, with stock running low on this incredibly popular shirt, what are you waiting for?
Although you may think that we’re money-focused fashion-forward style nuts, we’re actually a bunch of classy intellectuals. And as you can tell from extremely witty and original posts, we love to write! So, when asked by a reader, “How does Spungle do Spungle?” we decided to dedicate the first post of the Fall season to our beloved notebook- for without this notebook, Spungle would not be what Spungle is today!
Our beloved notebook comes for the uber-classy Bill Amberg design house. It is a simple leather book that accommodates standard A4 refills. The leather is beautifully well tanned and the interior suede is like butter! What we love so much about this notebook is that while it shows the wear and tear of years of writing, it screams subtle class. No matter where we go, or who we meet, we are always complemented on this perfectly simple design. And, since the pages are refillable, it is ideal for sketching out ideas while in the office or on the road. In essence, it is a vital piece of the Spungle magic.
So, if you’ve wracked your brains for hours figuring out how the Spungle magic happens, you can now rest assured—for the secret is out that it all starts with a beautiful classic notebook from the decadent yet classic Bill Amberg!
Although you think our job is one giant vacation, it's actually a lot of work making you look so good. So, in an attempt to keep us on our A-game and keep you dedicated, we're taking some much needed R&R for the next two weeks.
Be sure to check out the archives for over 150 high-quality reviws!
Thanks for being one of our 125,000 dedicated readers and see you on September 3!
With all this “Olympic stuff” going on, we’re fully in a sporting mood. Which means, we’re not only looking for fine footwear, we’re looking for sport infused footwear. Thankfully we didn’t have to look too far for our new favorite sport-infused shoe from the 100+ year-old manufacturers Pantofola d’Oro.
Originally created as a soccer (football) boot manufacturer, Pantofola d’Oro has maintained their commitment to fine men’s footwear for the last 100+ years. Their shoes are created from the highest grades of Italian leather, and are hand-manufactured just as they were in the 19th century. They still employ wood-based casting models and tan their leathers, as if we were in pre-electric times. With all this hand-made’ness, their shoes are by far some of the most exquisite and elaborate sporting shoes money can buy
Our favorite design, a new design for Summer 2008, the Laguna (part of the Golden Slipper Collection), exemplifies everything we love about Pantofola d’Oro. For starters, the hand stitching exemplifies the rich fullness of the hides that they use. The toe box is formed such that the shoe appears full, yet subtle under your trousers. The underside is adorned with leather and rubber treads in the style of a true driving shoe, but by increasing the diameter of the treads, they have created a much more comfortable and balanced walking experience. As a whole, it takes a new look at what we define as a driving shoe, and sets the bar ever so high for their competitors.
In conclusion, there’s something to be said for a company that’s 100+ years old and still pumping out some of the highest quality shoes money can buy. Pantofola d’Oro exemplifies what we desire in men’s shoes, and the Laguna is the perfect shoe to get you into a sporting (yet fashionable) state of mind!
When it comes to fine attire, nothing says summer like an ostentatious pair of golden anchor cut-out cufflinks. In fact, nothing screams class, like nautical wear. Which is why, we were absolutely tickled pink when found out that the jewelry geniuses at Me&Ro were currently selling our dream cufflinks- golden anchor cut-out cufflinks.
In true Me&Ro style, these beautifully constructed cufflinks are nothing shy of perfection. They are made from beautifully blended 18k gold, finished in a soft yet secure yellow finish, and adorned with rich Lapis slate. When viewed as a whole, we cannot think of a better pair of cufflinks for your summer attire- they are subtle yet flashy, classic yet fun, and most importantly, almost as expensive as your watch—making them an instant prized possession in your men's wear collection. What more could you want for your summer linen shirts?
Although we’ve made a number of references to the fact that summer is quickly fading, we do realize that there are plenty of hours of sun to be had, and as such, you need to protect your precious eyes. So, in an attempt to reinvigorate your summer shopping spirit, we went face-watching (aka sunglass hunting) around the Hamptons, and found what we believe are not only the hottest glasses of the summer, but also apparently, the most sought after glasses as well- the Persol 714!
Made legendary in Thomas Crown Affair (the 1968 original), these glasses have been desired since the day that they were retired in the early 70’s. This year, Persol decided to bring them back, to help us all remember the true style of the yester-years, and also spice up the monotony of all the other crappy styles that are out there. For starters, the glasses share the characteristic Persol design of true high-grade polymers adorned with classic Persol metal accent flair. In addition, not only do they feature 100% UV/UVB protection, but they also just happen to fold up to a tight little bundle—which actually is perfectly sized to fit in your blazer’s smallest pocket, or your shirt pocket!
Taken together, these shades are the ideal classic shades for the fashion-forward retro-loving style-conscious yuppy! So, if any of those hyphenated adjectives pertain to you, then you know what you’ve got to do to keep your face in style before summer passes you by!
When it comes to shoes, we’re all about style and comfort. Which is why we’ve been huge fans of TOMS shoes for years. However, at a recent cocktail party, we were saddened to learn that many knew TOMS only for their style/comfort and not for their third (and most important) defining characteristic, their social entrepreneurship. So, today’s review is dedicated to an old favorite amongst Spungle staffers, in hopes of bringing much-needed attention to a brand that is defining itself by being both socially responsible and ridiculously hot!
“Since its beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and 50,000 pairs in South Africa through the purchases of our caring customers. In 2008 TOMS plans to give 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world.
Our ongoing community events and Shoe Drops allow TOMS supporters and enthusiasts to be a part of this One for One movement.”
With respect to the actual shoes, we cannot imagine a weekend in the Hamptons without them. They are perfectly designed for a lazy stroll to the beach, on your way back into the house from the pool, or out to your favorite $27/drink restaurant. TOMS shoes not only make your feet look great, they make you feel great about your purchase. So, in summary, buy TOMS shoes not only to help adorn your 10 favorite toes, but also to help someone less fortunate have a better day!
As you’re well aware, we’re suckers for men’s bags. We don’t know what it is, but when it comes to lugging crap, we’re always looking for the most stylish way to do it. Which is why, when we were given a sneak peak at what promises to be this fall’s hottest bag, we started saying little prayers for the seasons to change! This beautifully designed bag, from our favorite classic designer, Barbour, fully launches this brand into a market of its own. You see, we’d always associated Barbour with fine clothing and outerwear, but to now see their handiwork when it comes to men’s accessories, we’re absolutely blown away by the Mail Bag!
This inexpensive yet luxurious bag is constructed from the award-winning Barbour wax-wear that we’ve all come to love. It’s perfectly sized to accommodate a few texts, a snack, or whatever else you could need for a day’s activities. It is accented by beautiful bridle leather, and adorns the signature Barbour tartan in the inside lining. In addition to being perfectly sized, it has an inside zipped pocket that’s perfect for keys/schlock, and a great zipped back-side pocket that’s perfect for bigger schlock. Taken together, this is the ideal bag for the guy who’s looking to “tone it down,” while still infusing a whole lot of style into his daily routine. And with a name like the “Mail Bag,” how can this not become your next “Male Bag?!?”
As summer begins to fade away, the days become shorter and the nights become longer. And although we’re slowly but surely approaching the infamous Labor Day (aka official departure of summer), there’s still a lot of partying to do. So, the question arises, how are you going to survive these exponentially longer summer nights? Well, you could invest in an espresso maker for your summer share house and risk having all the buffoons in your house break your beloved machine, or you could take matters into your own hands and purchase a portable espresso machine. Portable espresso? Yup, thanks to the folks at Handpresso , you can now have high-quality espresso in the privacy of your room/tent/bathroom, with no electricity required!
The ingenuity behind the Handpresso is the fact that barely any effort is required. You simply fill up the water reservoir to the required level, pop in your favorite espresso pod, pump the handle to 16bars of pressure, and mentally prepare to enjoy an amazing cup of espresso where you previously could not. The list of places where you could enjoy this are endless—from a doctor who’s on call in an inner-city hospital, to the billionaire who forgot to put an espresso machine on his yacht, to the gambling addict who needs a little jolt in the midst of his back-alley poker tourney, to the summer share house resident who needs help finding his second wind!
We found that the Handpresso was not only incredibly easy to use, that it is also absolutely beautifully designed. Constructed in true minimalist design, no space is wasted, meaning that it is kept light and portable while still highly functional. And since it is guaranteed idiot proof, you’re sure to make a perfect cup every single time! We know this is just the start of a line of fabulous products from Handpresso , and we can’t wait to see what’s next to come from their phenomenal design lab.
Being that it’s about 3 weeks since we introduced you to the most amazing body rejuvenation you’ve ever done, we bet that your clothes are starting to be a tad too big! Sure, you could take the time (and expense) to bring your pants to your tailor and have them take-in the seat, or you could bring them a few of your favorite pairs, and use a temporizing measure for the others. What could possibly be an intermediate for when your pants are too big? Suspenders, of course! And, we found our absolute favorites, at the appropriately named site, Suspenders dot com!
Our favorite style on their site is the Double-Up. “This traditional style mirrors the look of "button on" suspenders worn since they were first invented. Sal Herman, the President of Holdup Suspender, worked for years to perfect these stunning braces very popular with TV anchormen, actors, doctors, businessmen, students and professors. By eliminating the custom tailoring requirement to sew suspender buttons onto every pair of pants you wish to wear with suspenders ...now you can easily attach your Double-Ups to your entire wardrobe of pants in a snap. Get the aesthetic look of "Old Style button-on" braces with the convenience and ease of our no-slip clips.”
We have to admit that at first we were skeptical. We had always had our tailor sew in buttons on our tuxes, suits, and slacks. However, now that many haberdasheries offer free tailoring, they are reluctant to do extra work and sew in the requisite 6-8 buttons needed to accommodate suspenders. Well, after wearing these super comfortable and aesthetically beautiful braces, we now know where we can tell those tailors to put those 6-8 buttons!
The Double-Ups will surely get you noticed at your next event, and because they go on and off with a snap, you can wear them with any and all of your pants! We just ask that you don’t go too nuts and wear them with shorts—that would be simply weird!
In keeping with Monday’s theme of luxury home furnishings, we’ve decided to take it to the next level with this review. No, we’re not saying that there’s something more luxurious than cowhides, we mean “level” as in about 4 feet above the cowhide… the table top! When looking for the perfect table for your work/living space, you can be simply overwhelmed by the myriad of options. And to complicate your decision even further, you need to think how well this piece of furniture will work in your future apartment/office; since no one can really afford to buy new every time you move. So, what are you to do? The simple answer is to go with glass. However, even with just glass, there are so many difficult choices. But, as you’ve come to always love, we’ve done all the work, and found for you what we consider to be the ideal glass table!
When you go to those cookie-cutter furniture stores (ie Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Room and Board) looking for a glass table, you quickly realize that you are overpaying for crap. You see, the true luxury in glass is not just the size or frame of the table (as those cookie-cutter stores want you to believe), but the actually thickness and clarity of the table. When you go to those stores, you will be hard pressed to find any table top thicker than a ½ inch. And while you may say, “that’s thick enough,” once you see/feel a 3/4 inch glass, you will NEVER be able to go back to that overpriced crap. To sum it up, like with the most things, size matters!
Our favorite glass manufacturer, which once again we learned about from our friends in the design industry, is Factory Glass Direct. These guys provide the top interior design firms, furniture showrooms and retail glass companies with the best quality, service and price! Our obsession with this company is not just from the fact that they can provide innumerable custom sizes or shapes for any table needs. It’s the fact that you are getting a ridiculously amazing piece of glass, one which could be likened to a piece of artwork, for a fraction of what those cookie-cutter places charge for crap!
Their innovative projects include the bottle shaped glass supports at The World of Coke standing 19 feet tall, and the largest glass top made in the US, at the time, a 72” X 266” oval with a 1-1/4” bevel, in 3/4” thick glass!
While it may seem a little odd to purchase your table and base online, trust us, it’s a painless experience. Once you figure out the size that you need, all you have to do is decide on the shape, thickness, and style. After that, it’s a piece of cake. Factory Glass Direct will crate/package your table for transportation, and within no time, a delivery truck will show up at your door with your beautiful new table. And since the idea behind a glass table is simplicity, there’s nothing to put together. All you have to do is unwrap it, figure out where you want to put it, and set the table on top of the base. That’s it!
After installing a Factory Glass Direct custom design in our office, we cannot tell you how many compliments we have received! Everyone fawns all over this table, asking where they can get one. Trust us, if you want to live/work the luxury life, then you should stop reading this review, go measure your space, and get yourself an unbelievably priced phenomenal glass table from Factory Glass Direct!
As you’re well aware, we are absolutely obsessed with luxury! And while we typically talk about clothing or personal merchandise, we are truly interested in all facets of luxury life. Which is why we went absolutely crazy when we were given the opportunity to review some of the finest cowhide rugs that money can buy, thanks to the folks at Home Decor International!
Cowhides have been one of the hottest decorating themes for the past 10 years. They are so popular that it is hard for one to pick up a decorating magazine today without seeing one pictured in a den or office setting. As opposed to that Le Corbusier chair that’s faithfully collecting dust at your storage facility, cowhides are becoming more and more popular by leaps and bounds.
In our conversations with designers, we learned that cowhides are actually extremely diverse accents for almost any type of space. Approximately fifty per cent of the people use them for area rugs since they not only look stunning, but are also practically indestructible. Another twenty-five percent hang them on their walls or drape them over furniture while the remaining twenty-five percent use them to upholster furniture.
According to our dear friend who has an unhealthy obsession with cowhides, “They can be used in many different settings, from rustic ranch houses to very modern contemporary surroundings. For example, a brindle cowhide or exotic looking longhorn hide would look great in a ranch or country setting while a solid dyed black hide or a zebra animal print hide would look great in a contemporary setting. On the other hand, a custom made rectangular cowhide area rug would look absolutely fantastic underneath a dining room table or as a focal point in a living room or den, no matter what the setting was. The color would be the determining factor as to what kind of setting the rug should go in.”
In looking for the ideal rug, we asked all these designers where they get their stock. Each one seemed to have a different supplier that was more expensive than the rest. However, after talking to enough people, we learned that the most popular and most affordable purveyor was Home Décor International.
Home Decor International has been in business for over 25 years and has had an online presence since 1999. Even though they sell a number of high end products including sheepskin rugs and acrylic "mink" blankets, the majority of their business consists of uber-lux cowhide products.
Having over 1500 cowhides in stock at any given time, they have one of the biggest cowhide businesses in the country. To complement their huge inventory of natural cowhides, the company also has a whole line of decorative cowhide accessories including calfskins, cowhide pillows and placemats.
Now, before you start worrying about inoculating your apartment with anthrax or going straight to hell for buying a skin, you can rest assured that all of the company’s products are strictly by-products of the food industry. None of their products ever come from animals that have been killed strictly for the fur, wool or leather! Whew!
As you can imagine, cowhides are not all created equal. Even though almost every country produces cowhides, it is universally known that Brazil produces the finest quality chromium tanned, “hair-on” cowhides in the world. As a result, true high-end cowhides come from Brazil. On the other hand, although cowhides from Argentina and Columbia aren’t quite as nice as Brazilians, a small percentage can be almost as nice and are perfect for those individuals wanting the look and feel of a cowhide but don’t want to spend the extra money for a Brazilian. Which once again reaffirms to us, that everyone loves Brazilians! (take that however you’d like to take it)
In conclusion, we were apprehensive at first about the idea of a flattened dead animal resting peacefully in our workspace. However, after hearing about how popular they truly are, and witnessing our clients’ overwhelmingly positive reactions to our finely-tanned Brazilian friend, we cannot imagine calling a work space or home space a luxury space, without the necessary accoutrement of a tanned hide from Home Decor International!
While we love our phones, music players, and multi-media devices, we realize that user experience is truly dictated by the quality of the earphones. And, unfortunately, while many manufacturers make great devices, the OEM included earbuds usually leave a lot to be desired. Which is why, we’re always looking for the next best pair of ear buds, and more than happy to review any and every pair we can find. Behold our new favorites, SHE9850 by Philips.
“Philips in-ear headphones ensures high definition sound that is perfectly delivered into the ear by intelligently matching the user's ear canal for a closed snug fit, allowing passive noise isolation and shielding against environmental noise disruption. Developed from detailed research of the anatomy of ears, Philips SHE9850 and SHE9800 feature an Angled Acoustics design that adjusts the angle of the speaker tube to ensure a naturally comfortable fit for all ears.
In addition, a high definition transducer driver, backed by Balanced Armature Technology, delivers precise high, mid natural and full deep bass sound with the utmost accuracy. Prized for its compact design, the high definition transducer driver combined with precise acoustics tuning by Philips iLab, allow users of the SHE9850 to enjoy crisp, detailed and transparent professional-grade sound. Housed in premium metal to shield from unnecessary vibration and enable accurate sound transmission, the SHE9850 and SHE9800 headphones engage users in a rich and immersive music experience with an extensive range of sound that is accurate and distinct.”
What we love so much about these pint-sized ear buds, is that the perform like the high-def earphones of yester-years. We found that the highs were rich and undistorted and that the bass was perfectly balanced- not just an annoying rumble in your inner ear. When we put these bad-boys to the test with one of our favorite media-testing movies, Driven, we felt like Billy Bly was talking directly to us as he was about to pass Brandenburg!
In conclusion, if you’re looking to buy a pair of well-balanced earbuds that really should be considered in the high-end range of consumer products because of their outstanding performance, then look no further than the SHE9850 by Philips!
Or, do you go for the middle of the road, preferably one on sale, where you’ll get a ton of bang for your buck without breaking the bank? We vote the later. Which is why, we’re advocating for the newly released KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixer.
In a time when you have no choice but to put your best foot forward, you cannot risk having a single hair out of place. Sure you could slop your head with gobs and gobs of hair goo, or you could actually display an element of class, and carry a proper comb like a well refined man. While we do not support killing pachyderms to make combs and pianos, we do not see anything wrong with using modern chemistry to create high quality resins that just happen to remember ivory. As such, the Mock Ivory Comb by Penhaligon's
